Thank you, Chair –

Harm Reduction International and the co-signatories welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report on access to medicines, vaccines and other health products.

As highlighted in the report, ensuring affordable and adequate access to internationally controlled medicines for palliative care and drug dependency, including methadone and buprenorphine, is a core minimum obligation of the right to health. This must extend to people who use drugs, whether in the community or detention.

Yet, more than 80% of the world’s population still lacks access to essential medicines. HRI’s global states of harm reduction shows that while over 100 countries support harm reduction policies and practices, major gaps remain in ensuring equitable, quality, and voluntary services for all, especially for people in prison.

Harm reduction remains severely underfunded in LMICs, with only 6% of the estimated budget being invested in harm reduction interventions. Recent cuts to international aid by the United States and other countries have worsened this crisis, leading to partial or complete loss of life-saving services, putting lives at risk. We are seeing increased overdose rates and greater vulnerabilities to HIV and other infections.

Harm reduction is effective, cost-saving, evidence-based, and endorsed by the entire UN system. We call on Member States and the international community to act now by expanding harm reduction services, removing barriers for marginalised groups and shifting resources from punitive enforcement to health.

Thank you.

List of co-signatories:  

1. Harm Reduction International, Global
2. European Prison Litigation Network, Europe
3. HAYAT, Malaysia
4. International Drug Policy Consortium, Global
5. Skoun, Lebanese Addictions Center, Lebanon
6. Unmode, Europe