A/HRC/RES/41/10
Concerned at the lack of access to quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines
for children in appropriate dosage forms, and at problems in the rational use of children’s
medicines in many countries, and that, globally, children aged under 5 years still do not
have secure access to medicines for the treatment of communicable and non-communicable
diseases, including rare diseases,
Concerned also that the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases
constitutes a heavy burden on society, with serious social and economic consequences,
which represent a leading threat to human health and development, and recognizing the
urgent need to improve accessibility to safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines and
technologies to diagnose, treat and control non-communicable diseases, to strengthen viable
financing options and to promote the use of affordable medicines, including generics, as
well as improved access to preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services,
particularly at the community level,
Recognizing the need to appropriately address challenges, gaps, market failures and
opportunities regarding the research and development of health technologies, availability
and affordability to treat, inter alia, rare and neglected diseases, and to respond to the
growth of emerging challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance, among others, with a view
to addressing adequately public health needs and protecting, respecting and fulfilling
human rights, and taking into account the necessity to promote frameworks that meet public
health needs, while adequately rewarding innovation,
Considering the report by the Director-General of the World Health Organization on
cancer medicines, which, pursuant to resolution WHA70.12, examined the impact of
pricing approaches, including transparency, on the availability and affordability of
medicines for the prevention and treatment of cancer,
Recognizing with appreciation the introduction of new pharmaceutical products
made possible through investment in innovation for cancer treatment in recent years, while
noting with great concern the increasing cost to health systems and patients, and
emphasizing the importance of addressing barriers in access to safe, quality, effective and
affordable medicines, medical products and appropriate technology for cancer prevention,
detection, screening diagnosis and treatment, including surgery,
Expressing deep concern at recent outbreaks of highly infectious pathogens with
pandemic potential, which demonstrate the potential vulnerability of populations to them,
and in this context reaffirming and underscoring the importance of research into and
development of new and innovative medicines and vaccines and of ensuring access to safe,
affordable, effective and quality medicines and vaccines to all, including new and
innovative medicines, and of building and/or strengthening health system capacities,
including primary health care, for detecting, preventing and responding in a timely manner
to outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics and other health emergencies,
1.
Recognizes that access to medicines and vaccines is one of the fundamental
elements for the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health and the correspondent objectives of
universal health coverage and health for all, without discrimination, with special attention
to reaching those furthest behind first;
2.
Stresses the responsibility of States to ensure access for all, without
discrimination, to medicines and vaccines, in particular essential medicines, that are
affordable, safe, effective and of quality;
3.
Calls upon States to promote access to safe, effective, quality and affordable
medicines and vaccines for all, including through the use to the full of the provisions of the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement),
which provide flexibility for that purpose, while recognizing that the protection of
intellectual property is important for the development of new and innovative medicines and
vaccines, and the concerns about its effects on prices and public health;
4.
Also calls upon States to take steps to implement policies and plans to
promote access to comprehensive and cost-effective prevention, treatment and care for the
integrated management of non-communicable diseases, including, inter alia, increased
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