UN Report Calls for Pharmaceutical Accountability as millions Lack Access to Essential Medicines
GENEVA – A new report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is intensifying scrutiny of pharmaceutical companies, urging them to prioritize global access to medicines, vaccines, and other health products as a fundamental human right. Released this year and discussed at the June-July meeting of the Human Rights Council, the report analyzes both prosperous practices and systemic obstacles to equitable healthcare access, framing the issue as central to realizing the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
The report’s key proposal targets the pharmaceutical industry, calling on companies to respect the right of all people to necessary health products and to implement “due diligence” - a commitment to minimizing harm through responsible business practices. This extends to areas including research and development, pricing, intellectual property management, distribution, and technology transfer.
Despite numerous proposals and international discussions, significant disparities in access persist. The report highlights that over half the population in several low-income countries in Africa and Asia lack access to essential medicines.In developing nations, an estimated 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS have limited access to life-saving antiretroviral treatments, with only 300,000 receiving treatment out of the 5 to 6 million who need it. This situation underscores a critical paradox within the international health system, where significant pharmaceutical industry profits coexist with a lack of essential medicines for nearly a third of the global population.
