Making medicines and health technologies safe and accessible

Scientific advances have resulted in a vast array of drugs and health technologies to prevent or treat diseases. One of WHO's roles is to advise and support countries in the provision of these drugs and technologies. When Dr Vladimir Lepakhin became Assistant Director-General for the Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals cluster of departments in 2003, the debate centred on access and affordability. But as the number of new health products grows, WHO is focusing more than ever on their quality and safety.