The 25th meetings of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the professional organisation of pharmaceutical companies (Leem) took place in Geneva on 21 May.
The programme for this event, which also provided an opportunity to present the Tulipe association (Transfert d’Urgence de L’Industrie PharmaceutiquE), included access to primary healthcare and treatment, universal health coverage and preparedness for future pandemics. The 2023 edition of the OIF and Leem meetings brought together a panel made up of health ministers from 12 French-speaking countries, representatives of the World Health Organisation and industry representatives. They discussed the major challenges facing healthcare in a world that has been tested by three years of pandemics. The discussions were fascinating, and reflected the challenges of restoring confidence in health policies, in science and in the essential cooperation between public and private players.
The panel, made up of health ministers, WHO representatives and industry representatives, provided a wealth of concrete examples and projects illustrating both the challenges to be met and possible solutions in this field (Photo Leem).
Tulipe: an initiative designed to complement health policies
The role of the Tulipe association, an offshoot of Leem, was also presented. Participants were able to discover the raison d’être of the association, which for over 40 years has federated donations from member healthcare companies for distribution to its NGO partners. These NGOs work in crisis zones to support people in distress around the world. The association has recently provided support, through donations of health products, to several international and local NGOs operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Cameroon and Ethiopia. Tulipe’s actions are intended to complement the health policies pursued in these countries. The association’s operations are designed to provide one-off or long-term support for local initiatives, without replacing them. In 2022, Tulipe had 66 member healthcare companies, supported 22 beneficiary NGOs operating in 21 countries, and donated 140 tonnes of healthcare products.
At a time when the World Health Assembly is opening its work under the aegis of the World Health Organisation, Leem “thanks the ministers, WHO representatives, ambassadors, health authorities, pharmaceutical companies and associations for taking part in the 25th Leem-OIF Francophone Meeting”.
