Workshops

Translation from Research to Policy: A focus on a global diabetes agenda

The aim of workshop was to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to have an open-forum and use the collective intelligence in the room to provide concrete recommendations on how to improve national and international science-policy ecosystems.

“Policy making is messy and other stakeholders need to realize this and manage this..“

Rafael Bengoa, Former Minister for Health. Basque Government; Former Director Health Systems WHO, Spain.

Organisers: University of Geneva, Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, NCD Policy Lab, Geneva Science-Policy Interface

Ethical, economic, health system and person factors in the introduction of screening and high-priced medicines for NCDs: The example of Teplizumab for type 1 diabetes

Although screening for type 1 diabetes has been available for quite some time, until recently no therapeutic solutions were available for people identified at risk of developing this condition. The advent of Teplizumab marks a milestone for type 1 diabetes, however different factors need to be explored in order to develop appropriate responses as we transition from research settings for screening and the use of Teplizumab to implementation within health systems.

During the workshop a variety of issues were explored. First and foremost, the issue of screening and type 1 diabetes in the context of now having a disease modifying medicine. The workshop participants also explored the pros and cons of screening and Teplizumab and identified cross-cutting themes that need to be addressed when thinking about its introduction.

Type 1 diabetes screening: need for ethical, equity, and health systems perspective, Beran, David et al. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Volume 13, Issue 3, 175 - 176

Workshop on cross-cutting advocacy priorities for access to NCD medicines, diagnostics and medical devices

Driving coherence between technical expertise and advocay at a global and national levels for NCDs

On 27 November, the NCD Policy Lab partnered with the NCD Alliance to convene a targeted workshop dedicated to advancing access to essential NCD medicines, diagnostics, and medical devices.

This session brought together experts from the World Health Organization, global access initiatives, civil-society organisations, and private-sector partners, creating a valuable forum to align priorities and identify concrete pathways forward. The workshop built on the momentum generated during last June’s Hackccess Hackathon, highlighting both the progress achieved and the innovative solutions now taking shape.

Stay tuned for the next steps in developing a coordinated advocacy plan and advancing efforts to improve access to these essential medicines, diagnostics, and medical devices.

Organisers: NCD Policy Lab, University of Geneva, NCD Alliance

Commercial determinants of health and inequality in access to medicines

Access to medicines: a major issue for the right to health

At the global level, access to healthcare, particularly to medicines, remains a major challenge for the right to health. Insulin, although discovered in 1921, is a striking example: its high cost and supply shortages make it difficult to access, especially in low- and middle-income countries, but also for certain vulnerable populations in high-income countries such as Switzerland.

In autumn 2025, a roundtable co-organised by Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) examined the commercial barriers to equitable access to medicines. This roundtable provided a platform for discussing critical issues such as how to develop an integrated and ethical approach, engaging governments, non-state actors, and the private sector, to strengthen health systems, ensure equitable access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries, and address the challenges related to public health policy and international financing.

Three opening presentations helped frame this discussion:

Overview: Commercial determinants of health and access to medicines - the case of insulin, by Marina Giachino
Access to medicines: A country case study, by Jessica Zafra Tanaka
Medicine pricing and shortages: Not only a challenge for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (local case study: Switzerland), by David Beran
Access to antibiotics: A case study in the failure of the pharmaceutical economic model, by Nadya Wells

These presentations highlighted disparities in access to medicines and the roles played by different stakeholders. Through the examples of insulin and antibiotics, as well as contrasting health systems and issues related to medicine shortages and pricing, this first part of the roundtable shed light on both global challenges and more localized realities, particularly in Switzerland.

Discussions, Reflections, and Exchange of Experiences

The presentations were followed by an interactive session for discussion, reflection, and the sharing of experiences. Three working groups then deepened the conversation around three key questions. Across all three groups, several common messages emerged: the need for greater transparency, stronger accountability and responsibility, and sustained advocacy, highlighting the importance of a tripartite dialogue between the public, academia, and policymakers, as well as stronger coalitions among stakeholders.

Faced with these challenges, a collective and systemic response is essential. It is necessary to strengthen public regulation, ensure transparency in industrial practices, promote independent research, and guarantee universal access to essential medicines such as insulin.

This roundtable provided an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the various challenges and issues related to the commercial determinants of health, with a particular focus on access to medicines and insulin. Participants agreed that this is a critical topic. Indeed, barriers remain numerous, and significant progress is still needed to achieve equity and justice in access to care. Addressing the commercial determinants of health is a key lever for building more just, sustainable, and equitable health systems at both national and global levels.

Discover the roundtable detailed report

Equitable access to medicines is a major complex global health challenge. To improve access to medicines a variety of elements are needed, globally and nationally including ensuring transparency in industry practices, strengthening regulatory agencies, and promoting independent research. Using insulin as a tracer medicine helps understand this complexity and highlight the commercial determinants of these barriers. In order to change this paradigm governments, the private sector, and civil society all need to play a key role to guarantee universal access to essential medicines, such as insulin.

What we see with the case of access to insulin and many medicines is that the private sector’s power remains unchecked by governments and civil society. What we see with the case of access to insulin and many medicines is that the private sector’s power remains unchecked by governments and civil society.

Profits over health? Industry practices, medicine shortages, and the cost of care

Read the article

Co-organisers: NCD Policy Lab, Medicus Mundi Switzerland