Advancing Access to New Health Technologies through Local/Regional Manufacturing

On 13 May 2026, the NGO and Communities Delegations to the Unitaid Board hosted a joint learning session exploring the role of local and regional manufacturing in improving equitable access to health products in low- and middle-income countries.

The session brought together delegation members, community representatives, civil society advocates, and a representative from Unitaid Secretariat. Discussions focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling up regional production of health technologies, and the important role Unitaid can play in supporting equitable access.

Speakers highlighted key barriers that continue to limit access to new technologies, including intellectual property restrictions, financing gaps, weak market incentives, and inequities in global supply chains. The discussion also explored ongoing regional manufacturing initiatives across Africa, alongside the need for stronger collaboration, sustainable investment, and community engagement to ensure manufacturing efforts respond to real access and equity needs.

The session featured contributions from:

• Carol Nawina Nyirenda, Executive Director of CITAMplus and Board Member of the Unitaid Communities Delegation. 
• Brook Baker, Key Advisor to the NGO delegation and a professor emeritus at Northeastern U. School of Law.
• Mohga Kamal-Yanni, Key Advisor to the NGO delegation and Senior Health Policy Advisor. 
• Faith Mangwanya, Unitaid’s Regional Manufacturing Program Manager.
• Abdul-Fatawu Salifu, public health practitioner and the Alternate Board Member of the Unitaid Communities Delegation. 
• Sharonann Lynch,  Co-Director of the Center for Global Health Policy and Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Law and School of Health and Board member of the NGO Delegation to the Unitaid Board.

The conversation reinforced the importance of community and civil society leadership in shaping equitable access strategies and highlighted the need for continued investment in regional manufacturing ecosystems that can support long-term health security and access to innovation.