Call to Action for G7 leaders to uphold diagnostics and equitable access to testing

A CALL TO ACTION ahead of the G7 Summit on 11–13 June 2021, and upcoming G20 health meetings, for world leaders to uphold diagnostics and equitable access to testing within their commitments to support sustainable recovery from COVID-19.

We call upon the World Health Organization, the European Union, the African Union, and the Heads of State from the G20 and G7 Presidencies to:

1. Acknowledge that pandemic preparedness and response, as well as the attainment of UHC, requires a comprehensive, fully funded strategy for diagnostic testing;
2. Support that this strategy requires global collaboration to spur innovation and a coordinated agenda that inspires multisectoral and national action. We must build on the successful efforts from the ACT-Accelerator diagnostics pillar, co-led by FIND and the Global Fund, and create a permanent diagnostics alliance. Aligning with the recommendations from the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response’s 2021 report, G7 countries must urgently commit 60% of the US$ 19 billion required for the ACT-Accelerator in 2021, while ensuring a coherent, strategic, inclusive and fully funded framework. This will enable research institutes, diagnostic developers and manufacturers, healthcare providers and, most importantly their employees, to create roadmaps for building safe, effective, affordable and thus sustainable diagnostic systems;
3. Leverage global innovation using production capacity in LMICs to diversify manufacturing and supply of diagnostic tools. Currently the world is highly dependent on a small number of countries that manufacture diagnostic tests. Testing nationalism and broken supply chains demonstrate the need for change in manufacturing towards a more focused, resilient, and effective approach;
4. Support the development of national Essential Diagnostics Lists (EDLs), based on the global WHO EDL, and integrate testing into fully funded national health action plans to protect against the global health emergencies of today and tomorrow. This includes prioritizing capacity building for diagnostic testing in LMICs, adapted to national contexts and priorities, as key to building strong, sustainable and resilient health systems that can curb future health emergencies;
5. Recognize the value of diagnostic testing beyond the health system, integrating it within areas of society such as schools and workplaces, border crossings, and large-scale social events and mandate WHO to urgently develop guidelines for diagnostic use and self-testing beyond healthcare settings;
6. Support and fund existing and innovative digital health solutions to facilitate diagnosis via the use of artificial intelligence, mobile monitoring devices, use of genomics, and self-testing tools – building on the significant advances made through investments for COVID-19;
7. Build diagnostics literacy among policymakers, health workers, communities, and the media, especially in LMICs, to enhance confidence and understanding of the value of using diagnostic tests as a first line of defence to manage population health. We know public confidence – or rather lack of confidence – in all aspects of tackling a pandemic can impact take-up of all medical commodities, from testing kits to vaccines.

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