Building Trust for Global Health

Most causes of deaths in children could be prevented with effective treatment and interventions that are feasible for implementation, even in resource-constrained settings.

However, appropriate medicines to save and improve the lives of infants and children often do not exist, are unavailable, or are not quality assured. This puts children’s lives at risk, hindering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal health coverage targets.

Ensuring access to essential medicines is an explicit component of the right to health, as enshrined in international human rights conventions. Article 24 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child states: “Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.”

Through their legislative and advocacy roles, parliamentarians have a critical function in ensuring access to optimal pediatric medicines through leadership at national, regional, and global levels. This brief was prepared by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation with the support of the Global Accelerator for Pediatric Formulations (GAP-f) to join forces with parliamentarians promoting and protecting children’s rights by ensuring access to optimal medicines.