Empowering Young Europeans to Tackle the Biomedical Access and Innovation Crisis

The world is facing a biomedical access and innovation crisis with millions of people suffering or dying because they lack access to adequate and affordable medicines that could cure their diseases. In our project, European student activists came together to organise and carry out a workplan which addresses this global health issue. This annual workplan included a series of interlinked capacity building, advocacy and coordinating activities aimed at raising awareness of possible solutions and advocating for political change at different levels. The project is intended to inspire and empower participants to collectively address the challenging topic of 'global access to medicines', including on their universities' campuses, with European and national government institutions, and with the general public. Participants took part in a growing global movement that calls for affordable access to lifesaving treatments for all patients in need, and for a way of developing medicines that adequately address the needs of patients around the globe. Project activities included a European Conference, the implementation of a global campaign, an Access to Medicines Awareness and Action Week, as well as a number of training events both at regional and local levels.These activities gave the participants a unique opportunity to build on sustainable collaborations across national boundaries and provided them with the skills they needed for to engage in active citizenship. Equipped with such skills, UAEM volunteers participated in important events and fora such as the World Health Assembly and meetings with national politicians, where they presented UAEM’s approaches to a more equitable R&D system. The activities implemented have led to a growing number of people being aware of the importance of access to medicines for all. More than 300 students and young researchers from across 9 European countries engaged in peer learning and mentoring, training, tool production and political advocacy work, experience exchange, and network building. Altogether, the implemented activities contributed to creating a solid foundation from which more work can be done to further improve access to adequate and affordable medicines to all those in need. Within this project, most activities were designed, led and implemented by young people who volunteer for UAEM.