The World Health Organization (WHO) hosted the 3rd Annual Partners Meeting of the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM-Net) in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 30 to October 1, 2025. This significant gathering brought together approximately 85 participants from 30 organizations, including regional bodies, UN agencies, international development partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration and expedite progress towards timely and equitable access to medical countermeasures (MCMs) such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. This is crucial for enhancing preparedness for future public health emergencies amid an evolving global health security landscape.
Key Themes and Challenges Discussed
During the two-day meeting, participants underscored that preparedness is a shared responsibility that necessitates ongoing collaboration across various sectors and regions. Discussions revealed several key themes, including the importance of addressing challenges throughout the MCM value chain. This encompasses fast-tracked research and development, scalable manufacturing, efficient emergency supply chains, integrated delivery systems, and sustainable financing for specific health products.
One notable achievement highlighted at the meeting was the delivery of over 1.6 million mpox vaccine doses to 13 countries through the mpox Access and Allocation Mechanism. This accomplishment underscores how i-MCM-Net fosters strong global collaborations that translate into tangible impacts for countries in need.
Commitment to Future Actions
The meeting culminated in a shared commitment from all participants to advance 20 priority actions over the next 12 months. These actions will be incorporated into an operational plan, which is to be co-developed by the i-MCM-Net Secretariat and its partners. The plan will focus on enhancing collaboration and accelerating progress across the MCM value chain, ensuring that innovations in vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics lead to timely and equitable access for all.
As the world faces an increasingly complex health security landscape, the role of the i-MCM-Net remains critical. It facilitates the translation of shared commitments into concrete action, ensuring that no region is left behind. The initiative aims to guarantee that every country has timely and equitable access to life-saving medical countermeasures when the next public health emergency arises.
The ongoing negotiations regarding the WHO Pandemic Agreement further emphasize the importance of these collaborative efforts. Until that agreement is finalized and in force, initiatives like i-MCM-Net are essential for addressing global health challenges and supporting countries in their preparedness efforts.
