A big step forward for greater diagnostics access

A major milestone in the field of diagnostics was reached at the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. Representatives from governments around the world adopted aIt’s motivating to see such concrete global recognition of the critical role diagnostics plays in bringing better care to more people.

As a company, we have long stressed the importance of diagnostics in improving people's health through tests that detect diseases, conditions and infections as well as support in treatment management. Diagnostics have the potential to reduce the global burden of serious chronic diseases by detecting them at earlier and more treatable stages. But we recognize that diagnostics can only make a difference if the people in need have access to it.

The resolution demonstrates a shared commitment to address this diagnostics access gap and improve health outcomes globally. Put simply, the World Health Assembly resolution is not only a crucial step for diagnostics, but a building block for more equitable and effective health care around the world.

A1 on access to diagnostics from The Lancet Commission puts the problem into perspective. According to the report, fewer than 50% of the world's population have little to no access to essential diagnostics, and up to 81% in low-income countries.

While the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear to the world just how important testing is to the delivery of healthcare, the pandemic also exposed diagnostics-related inequities, with low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) experiencing more limited access to diagnostic tests.

These access gaps are simply not compatible with the WHO’s universal health coverage (UHC) goal. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals package, in 2015 the WHO set the goal of achieving UHC by 2030. In short, this means providing all people with access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them.

As the first critical step in the health care journey – one that informs the potential treatment that follows – how can we deliver on the promise of access to care if 47% of the global population is unable to access basic diagnostics, and up to 81% in low-and-middle income countries?

The resolution has the potential to be a crucial building block in expanding access to diagnostics and, by extension, achieving universal health coverage. Concretely, the resolution puts forward a range of policy recommendations, from establishing national diagnostics strategies, to developing relevant skills throughout the workforce, strengthening laboratory systems and infrastructure, and adopting regulatory frameworks that accelerate access.

Following these steps gives us the potential to advance a larger systemic shift: from treatment to prevention. Given the role diagnostic tests can play in identifying health issues at an early stage, their broad availability can bring the world together around preventative care. Not only can this help us address the overspend on acute and chronic healthcare, but it can also enable more people to lead healthier lives. The Lancet’s report estimates that every year as many as 1.1 million deaths could potentially be averted through better access to basic diagnostics leading to treatment.2

The WHA resolution is the result of years of hard work and commitment to public health. The writing and passing of this resolution is the result of the hard work of various national representatives, in particular those from Indonesia and Eswatini, and The Lancet Commission. Now we find ourselves facing a new challenge: putting the resolution’s goals into practice.

The implementation phase will be a shared responsibility, counting on the efforts of governments, industry, and civil society organizations. For our part, the resolution gives private companies the impetus to invest more in innovative diagnostics solutions, the necessary workforce, and initiatives designed to promote access and equity. COVID-19 showed the power of public-private partnerships to make an impact on public health. I hope that we are able to leverage these learnings to continue to make a global impact on human health.

If we get the implementation right, the WHA resolution on the strengthening of diagnostics capability will not just help widen access to essential diagnostics, but also help the world prioritize preventative care and achieve universal health coverage. This will impact millions of people around the world and help them live healthier lives.

With the 2030 UHC deadline getting closer every day, it’s now time to get to work.

References

1. Fleming, K. A., Horton, S., Wilson, M. L., Atun, R., DeStigter, K., Flanigan, J., Sayed, S., Adam, P., Aguilar, B., Andronikou, S. (2021). The Lancet Commission on diagnostics: transforming access to diagnostics. The Lancet, 398(10315), 1997-2050.

2. Number calculated for 6 priority conditions (diabetes, hypertension, HIV, and tuberculosis in the overall population, plus hepatitis B virus infection and syphilis for pregnant women). Fleming, K. A., Horton, S., Wilson, M. L., Atun, R., DeStigter, K., Flanigan, J., Sayed, S., Adam, P., Aguilar, B., Andronikou, S. (2021). The Lancet Commission on diagnostics: transforming access to diagnostics. The Lancet, 398(10315), p1997.