October 21, 2021
Introduction
The current pandemic has highlighted the exposure of Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) to global vaccine supply shortages, despite efforts by the industry to increase manufacturing capacity, including in large developing countries. This challenge extends well beyond COVID-19. Routine vaccination programs need to be maintained in LMICs to avoid increased mortality especially among children. Building productive capacity in developing countries for vaccines beyond COVID-19 could make an important contribution to equitable access and pandemic preparedness in LMICs. Increased global cooperation is essential to achieve this goal.
At a WIF digital satellite event, UNCTAD in partnership with WHO launched a series of consultations with policymakers, investors, vaccine manufacturers and technology providers on how to coordinate and promote investment in LMIC based vaccine productive capacity. The first World Local Production Forum organised by the WHO from 21-25 June 2021 also brought together stakeholders to enhance cooperation for diversifying production capacity to contribute to the supply of essential health products. The objective was to take stock of partnerships to date and to discuss the way forward in intensifying partnerships for vaccine productive capacity.
Issues addressed:
- How can multilateral partnerships help mobilise impact investment in LMICs’ productive capacity?
- How can LMICs’ policy frameworks be improved to promote foreign and domestic investment in pharmaceutical production?
- Can and should the current consultations led by UNCTAD and WHO be transformed into a more formal partnership?
Session Highlights
The session focussed at picking stock of partnerships and discussing the way forward. The Context of LMIC is volatile and resources constrained. A number of countries have put up a complex response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortcoming of the COVID-19 vaccines and the distribution disparity of the vaccines are big. Panellists highlighted apparent distribution disparity and the availability of the vaccines to the UK and Africa. There has been early procurement seen in developed nations as compared to developing nations. One can embark on a great ordeal of the availability of the vaccines to LMIC. Several factors affected the distribution of the vaccines and any drug in the market for that matter. Panellists in the session highlighted such factors and presented the way forward alongside some recommended changes in the policies, both domestically and internationally. One of such policies is related to that of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The session highlighted a strong need for equitable access to lifesaving technology. Countries should read into their experiences in pandemics and find a way forward for any future health crisis.
The need of the hour as recommended by the Panellists is the strategic coordination to build vaccine production capacity in LMICs. In this session, key global and strategic players came together to discuss the means of achieving the objective and vaccine production capability of LMICs. Facilitators and Panellists underscored the financial, market and technological complexities of vaccine production. The session pointed out largely the potential to overcome such challenges is by coordinating strategic partnerships among several stakeholders. Stakeholders such as investors, manufacturers, technology developers, development partners, facilitators, and lastly the government at regional level must respond to sustainability of investment and conditions in LMICs.
The discussion led to uncapping of the potential of foreign investment in LMICs’ healthcare value chain, targeting local productive capacities for vaccines and drugs. The discussion thereby linked into access to essential medicines and vaccines, domestic technology development alongside innovation in developing countries. One of the Panellists suggested that the conversation should not be about what should be done, but mostly about if it can be done. The idea originated from relevant risk factors curbing to strengthen the equitable distribution, such as political environment, bifurcation of R&D and mostly the existing scenario of a country. It is important to reduce the risk of investment, increase research, and strengthen demand for technology transfers. The African continent needs to consolidate its demand and learn from different countries. As the Panellists suggested, the goal of a country is to locally manufacture a vaccine/drug, or at least have a developmental plan in place.
The need of the hour as suggested by the Panellists is to build a productive capacity in developing countries for vaccines beyond COVID-19. It is important to have equitable access and preparedness in LMICs. Increased global partnership and cooperation should be of utmost priority to achieve this goal.
Opening:
- Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary General, UNCTAD
- Rogério Gaspar, Director, Regulation and Prequalification Department, Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, World Health Organisation
On the panel were:
Presentation: Key development on partnership for production of vaccines in LMICs
- Martin Seychell, Deputy Director General, Directorate General for International Partnerships, Responsible for Directorates G and R, European Commission
- Nicaise Ndembi, Senior Science Advisor to the Africa CDC Director
Roundtable discussion: Taking stock of the status of partnership for production of vaccines in LMICs and the way forward
- Matthew Downham, Sustainable Manufacturing Lead, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
- Patrick Tippoo, Executive Director, African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI)
- Abdu Mukhtar, Director, Industrial and Trade Development Department, African Development Bank (AfDB)
Commentary and discussion: Status of partnership for production of vaccines in LMICs and the way forward
- Mr. David Robinson, Deputy Director, CMC Vaccines Development and Surveillance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
- Mr. Axel Klaphake, Director Economic and Social Development, Digitalisation Sector and Global Programmes, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Mr. Stephen N. Karingi, Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Moderators:
- Dr. Jicui Dong, Head, Local Production and Assistance Unit, Regulation and Prequalification Department, Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, World Health Organisation
- Mr. Ermias Biadgleng, Officer-in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD