Doctors Without Borders is closing its widely regarded access-to-medicines campaign

In a surprise move, Doctors Without Borders is closing down its access-to-medicines campaign, which has been credited with ensuring needed drugs and vaccines have been made available to countless patients in low-income countries around the world.

The organization plans to close its campaign by the end of this year and create a new effort devoted to access to products for health care. But unlike its access-to-medicines campaign, the new structure will primarily focus on products — medicines and vaccines — that Doctors Without Borders expects to need for its own relief efforts. A strategic plan for the new structure is not finalized, though, according to sources.

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In explaining the move, Doctors Without Borders told its staff the two programs require similar resources and capabilities, but might cause confusion, duplicate work, and create unnecessary expense, according to a slide presentation. But the organization maintained it plans to integrate access-to-medicines campaign staffers into the new initiative. Up to 50 staffers and consultants will be affected.

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