Call for Proposals: Access to Essential Medicines

Despite advances in medical science, safe and affordable medicines remain inaccessible in many developing countries.  According to the World Health Organization, 30% of the world’s population lacks access to essential medicines—estimated at between 1.3 and 2.1 billion people.  Current procurement mechanisms, lack of transparency, intellectual property protections, and legal restrictions constitute major barriers to needed medications in many parts of the world.  The human cost of these policies is enormous with developing countries showing an average life expectancy of 14 years less than that for developed countries.

Currently, there are only a handful organizations from the global South carrying out cutting-edge access-to-medicines work in their home countries. In an effort to strengthen needed capacity, the Open Society Institute Public Health and Information programs are seeking applications from qualified organizations interested in receiving institutional support for their work on access to essential medicines.  Grants for up to $75,000, renewable for up to three years, will be awarded to local NGOs with a mandate and demonstrated capacity to advance policy and civil society engagement related to access to medicines in Brazil, India, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, and Thailand.

For details on how to apply, please download the guidelines attached below.

Deadline

Interested organizations should submit an application no later than Monday, July 16, 2007.

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