GAT joins the European initiative SOS 4 EU Health Innovation

The Group of Activists in Treatments (GAT) is now one of the signatory organizations of the SOS 4 EU Health Innovation initiative, a European mobilization calling for a new European Mission for Health Innovation, within the framework of the European Union's political cycle (2024-2029).

The initiative, led by a group of civil society organizations, patient associations, scientists and health professionals, aims to ensure that scientific, technological and social innovation in health remains at the heart of the priorities on the European agenda, as can be read in the appeal:

The global health research community is today facing an unprecedented challenge to its very foundation. Policy shifts from the United States are jeopardizing scientific independence, environmental protections, and public health initiatives across the world, Europe included.

Europe maintains a longstanding tradition of global scientific leadership. In the last 25 years, Team Europe’s investments in research and innovation (R&I) have saved almost 1 million lives from neglected diseases and helped deliver multiple life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, every €1 of R&I activity ultimately generates €5.67 in additional output in Europe.

It has never been more urgent to preserve and strengthen Europe's health R&I ecosystem. This is an opportunity to take leadership, accelerate innovation, and attract and nurture talent.

The letter is open to individual and collective signatures, join the SOS 4 EU Health Innocation appeal now and sign it.

What does the initiative propose?

The open letter of the SOS 4 EU Health Innovation initiative highlights three key priorities:

• Strengthen support for international research partnerships, promoting collaboration with experts from around the world, especially in the areas of public health and biomedical innovation;
• Establishing mandatory and binding conditions to ensure that public investments in innovation result in open, collaborative science and equitable and affordable access to the health solutions developed;
• Guarantee at least 200 billion euros for the next European Research Framework Program (FP10), with at least 10% earmarked for health, ensuring robust and stable funding for excellent research with a social impact.

As an organization that defends health as a human right, GAT joins the call because it recognizes that:

• Innovation in health is only valuable when its accessibility to all people is ensured;
• Public investment in health must generate public benefits - medicines, new technologies and prevention strategies that are effectively accessible;
• International collaboration and open science are key to tackling pandemics, improving community responses and reducing health inequalities.

SOS 4 EU Health Innovation calls for joint action between European institutions, governments, the scientific sector and civil society. We believe that the transformation of health systems depends on courageous political decisions and a collective commitment to social justice and health equity.

Read the initiative's open letter and its principles at sos4euhealthinnovation.org