Improving access to COVID-19 Therapeutics
WHO supports the work of the Therapeutics Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator which is co-led by Wellcome and Unitaid. The Therapeutics pillar enhances the development, manufacture, procurement and distribution of COVID-19 treatments for populations in low- and middle-income countries. The Global Fund, UNICEF and WHO have led procurement and deployment of COVID-19 therapeutics, including oxygen and related products, with support from Unitaid on market interventions to lower oxygen prices and address supply bottlenecks.
Allocation of COVID-19 Therapeutics
WHO and Global Fund lead work to plan and execute allocation strategies with the goal of ensuring access to critical COVID-19 therapeutics made available via the ACT-A partnership. In collaboration with technical experts an approach for allocation was
developed based on principles of equity, transparency, and ethics.
WHO leads the development of an allocation mechanism and operational coordination across all partners’ agencies, from manufacturer negotiation to procurement coordination.
How it works
- Once a minimum amount of information is available for a product regarding supply terms, timing and quantities available, an algorithm is calibrated for each medicine taking into consideration:
- The treatment goal
- The target population according to WHO treatment guidelines
- Rate limiting criteria if appropriate
- A call for expression of interest for countries to request the product is made via the secure Partners Platform
- Countries express interest in obtaining supply
- Considerations are made for supply and demand issues such as:
- A minimum amount per country to meet the need
- The time period
- Supply availability
- Prioritization factors
- Constraints such as financing or country capacity to deliver necessary services
- An allocation plan is developed, submitted and approved by a governing committee
- The plan is submitted to countries for confirmation
- The final plan is provided to procurement and logistics partners and relevant manufacturers.
Progress
The allocation process was first launched for tocilizumab in Febraury 2022. Since then the allocation process have also been launched for molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.