During the 1990s, MSF teams made a bitter observation: we were failing to treat some of our patients suffering from infectious diseases, while in developed countries, remarkable progress was being made in the field of health. Two decades on, medicines in developing countries are still either too expensive, aren't suitable to be used in many of the contexts in which we work (for example, in hot, humid conditions or where there's a lack of electricity), or simply don't exist for the diseases we need to treat.
In 1999, we launched the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, now known as the Access Campaign. Its mission focuses on three areas: overcoming barriers to access to essential medicines, stimulating research and development for neglected diseases, promoting health exceptions to global trade agreements.
In 2003, MSF joined several research institutes, including the Institut Pasteur, to create the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a non-profit research and development organisation engaged in research and development of new treatments for neglected diseases.
![MDR-TB in Mathare, Nairobi MDR-TB in Mathare, Nairobi](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/iep525c5q7axlh57u3w7455v4725p2b5.jpg)
Bedaquiline: First new tuberculosis drug in 50 years
![Machar Colony clinic, Karachi Machar Colony clinic, Karachi](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/d20r663cu4c21ji386d618oc7eksa82u.jpg)
MSF opens new clinic in Karachi
![Kala Azar in Bihar, India Kala Azar in Bihar, India](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/e/a/e/4/MSF107252.jpg)
Medicines shouldn't be a luxury
![Lankien, Jonglei State and Nasir, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, Lankien, Jonglei State and Nasir, Upper Nile State, South Sudan,](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/7/c/4/8/MSF125633.jpg)
Millions of patients still waiting for medical 'breakthroughs' against neglected diseases
![HAT Screening in CAR HAT Screening in CAR](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/6/a/f/f/MSF121299.jpg)
National control activities crippled by lack of funding
![Refugee crisis South Sudan, Upper Nile State, Batil and Doro. Refugee crisis South Sudan, Upper Nile State, Batil and Doro.](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/du871o2n47w4jx783xr3jtrher85004e.jpg)
GAVI needs to offer lower vaccine prices to humanitarian actors
![DR TB Treatment in Uzbekistan DR TB Treatment in Uzbekistan](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/b/1/0/4/MSF114180.jpg)
DR-TB Drugs Under the Microscope: 2nd Edition
![Kibera South Health Center, Kenya Kibera South Health Center, Kenya](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/3/f/e/3/MSF124451.jpg)
Results from new TB test reveal urgent need to scale up treatment
![DR TB treatment in India DR TB treatment in India](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/r738co4n34y60o6bmjm4st5ro2vv41lw.jpg)