On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) delivered the following statement on universal health coverage.
KEI will make three points.
-
1. There is inequality in access to small molecule drugs, far more inequality in access to biologic drugs, and almost no access at all to the newer cell and gene based therapies in many countries.
2. Working with WIPO and the WTO, the WHO should provide technical assistance to member states on the flexibility in international agreements to create exceptions to patent rights for treatments that can be classified as services, such as autologous CAR-T.
3. The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines needs a category for treatments that are essential if available at affordable prices.