Japan-headquartered Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) and Switzerland-based Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-backed public health organisation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration to improve access to medicines.

The GHIT Fund has invested in the research and development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to manage and address infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which are highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The partnership between the two organisations is designed to help improve global access to products especially in LMICs. MPP’s expertise in licensing and technology transfer for essential health products, and its stated commitment to working more closely with funders, research institutions, and universities around the world as part of MPP’s 2023-2025 strategy to support equitable access, complements GHIT Fund’s third five-year plan, GHIT 3.0, which aims to improve access and delivery of innovative medical products.

This collaboration will also contribute to effective technology transfer in global health. In line with the GHIT Fund’s access policy, it will also streamline technology transfer processes and promote effective deployments of innovative medical technologies.

Through this partnership, MPP will provide its support as an implementing partner at GHIT Fund’s request where voluntary licensing and technology transfer may be a viable mechanism for identified health technologies. Furthermore, the GHIT Fund and MPP will share knowledge and perspectives on access-oriented licensing and other issues relating to affordable access medical technologies in LMICs and will identify opportunities for further collaboration.