To prevent patients from paying too much out of their own pockets, we have to ensure equitable access to NCD medicines and technologies with affordable and effective financing. Furthermore, promoting fair prices and cost-effective interventions are essential to achieving universal health coverage and to this end, strategies for measuring, monitoring, and managing prices must be devised to promote equitable access to these health products. There is not one single approach that suits all systems, but there is a universal need to promote equity in access to effective new products, by ensuring that medical advances are affordable and working with all stakeholders to sustainably respond to public health needs.

The aim of this NCD Hard Talk is to leverage perspectives on current challenges and opportunities in lowering out-of-pocket health expenditure for patients living with NCDs, as well as successful levers and policy options, particularly in the context of LMICs. This NCD hard talk explores possible avenues for multisectoral collaboration towards improved and equitable access to NCD medicines and health products for patients.

The webinar is co-organized between the WHO NCD department and the Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division.

We hope you will join the conversation on May 8th.