Project Info
Project Code
2326R
Tranche
T15
Tranche Type
Regular
Status
Active
Title
Regional integration and cooperation to promote affordable and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics in the Asia-Pacific region
Entities
Implementing Entity (Lead)
ESCAP
Other Collaborating Entities
Other UN entities
Financial and Evaluation Info
Total Budget
$650,000.00
Project Selected for Evaluation
No
Countries and Regions
Countries or Areas:
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Philippines (the), Timor-Leste
Regions:
Asia
Sub-Regions:
Intermediate Regions:
Countries in Special Situations:
Least Developed Countries (LDC), Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Areas of Work
SDG
17
3
5
9
SDG Targets
17.10
17.11
3.8
3.b
3.d
5.4
5.5
9.1
Brief Description
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of selected countries in Asia and the Pacific to develop coherent policies and practical strategies for trade, investment, and technology transfer to address inequities in the availability of and access to essential medical products (vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics) through domestic policy reforms and regional cooperation mechanisms.
This project will investigate the experience and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify good practices and develop practical strategies. The project will develop knowledge products and stimulate information sharing at the regional level, and then assist selected countries by providing training as well as developing national action plans to enable these countries to utilize trade, investment, regional cooperation, and public-private partnerships for enhancing access to essential health products in times of crisis as well as in achieving good health and well-being with equity for all (SDGs 3 and 17).
This work is expected to contribute to improving the capacities of target countries to develop action plans in order to:
(a) remove trade-related regulatory and procedural bottlenecks to enhance availability and access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics;
(b) promote production, research and development, and technology transfer through investment and innovative financing mechanisms and use of Intellectual Property provisions to enhance production and research capacity in vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics;
(c) strengthen the availability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability of quality and comprehensive health care services, for all sections of the population, including women, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Moreover, this project is expected to provide benefits beyond the targeted countries. Experience sharing workshops and knowledge products developed under this project will provide lessons learned from good practices as well as policy recommendations that can be applied to other developing countries that face similar challenges in terms of inequitable access to essential health products and weak national healthcare systems.
This project will investigate the experience and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify good practices and develop practical strategies. The project will develop knowledge products and stimulate information sharing at the regional level, and then assist selected countries by providing training as well as developing national action plans to enable these countries to utilize trade, investment, regional cooperation, and public-private partnerships for enhancing access to essential health products in times of crisis as well as in achieving good health and well-being with equity for all (SDGs 3 and 17).
This work is expected to contribute to improving the capacities of target countries to develop action plans in order to:
(a) remove trade-related regulatory and procedural bottlenecks to enhance availability and access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics;
(b) promote production, research and development, and technology transfer through investment and innovative financing mechanisms and use of Intellectual Property provisions to enhance production and research capacity in vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics;
(c) strengthen the availability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability of quality and comprehensive health care services, for all sections of the population, including women, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Moreover, this project is expected to provide benefits beyond the targeted countries. Experience sharing workshops and knowledge products developed under this project will provide lessons learned from good practices as well as policy recommendations that can be applied to other developing countries that face similar challenges in terms of inequitable access to essential health products and weak national healthcare systems.
Objective and Expected Outcomes
Objective
To enhance the capacity of selected countries in Asia and the Pacific to develop policies and strategies to reduce inequality in access to essential medical products and strengthen health system resilience.
Expected Outcome 1
Policymakers and practitioners in the trade and commerce ministry and agencies responsible for enhancing cross-border flows of medical products in selected countries have improved their knowledge and capacity to address barriers to trade and procedural bottlenecks and utilize regional cooperation mechanisms for affordable and equitable access to essential health products.
Expected Outcome 2
Policymakers in ministries of commerce drafting investment laws and practitioners in national investment promotion agencies in government institutions dealing with Intellectual Property (IP), investment, and financing in selected countries have enhanced capacity to address IP obstacles and utilize practical options for innovative financing and investment promotion to accelerate technology transfer and dissemination through the strategies that have been developed.
Expected Outcome 3
Target stakeholders, such as policymakers and practitioners in the areas of health, welfare and social development in selected countries have increased their knowledge and capacity and taken steps to develop policies and action plans at the national level to strengthen the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of quality and comprehensive health care services, to all sections of the population including women, older persons and persons with disabilities.