A child’s access to the medicines they need should not depend on where they are born.
Yet millions of children and young people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) face barriers to essential medicines, diagnostics and health technologies.
This includes children living with respiratory conditions such as asthma, for whom access to timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment is essential to protecting lung health and preventing avoidable illness.
The 2026 Science Summit, taking place alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly, will bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers and advocates to examine the challenges facing children and young people living with NCDs.
One of the sessions will focus on improving access to affordable essential medicines and health technologies for children with NCDs, and will explore the evidence and action needed ahead of a proposed 2027 World Health Assembly resolution on the issue.
With respiratory diseases among the leading causes of illness in children and young people worldwide, equitable access to essential medicines remains an important part of improving lung health across the life course.
The 2026 Science Summit takes place in September 2026.