Beyond access to medicines: Eliciting high–income country support for a new global health research and development paradigm

n recent decades, debates surrounding access to medicines have moved on to discussions on new ways of conducting research and development (R&D) to ensure equitable access from the outset. The market failure in the current R&D system and the need for new models has been apparent for decades A new framework for research and development to address health gaps primarily affecting lowand middle-income countries (LMICs) is currently one of the most contentious issues being debated at the World Health Organization (WHO). While WHO member states agree that urgent action is needed, deciding upon models, implementation mechanisms and funding commitments has proven difficult [3]. The report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (CEWG), published in 2012, marks the most recent milestone in the search of a new R&D paradigm (Box 1) [7].