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.
![MSF Intervention in Alcalá de Henares MSF Intervention in Alcalá de Henares](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/y1n63063pl2ukgc7uy63fs63464r1hu0.jpg)
MSF calls for no patents or profiteering on COVID-19 drugs and vaccines
![Wishlist 2020 - FUTURE [Twitter version] Wishlist 2020 - FUTURE [Twitter version]](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/0/9/8/6/MSF298431.jpg)
Our 2020 wishlist - five New Year's resolutions for medical care
![Pneumonia vaccine signs Pneumonia vaccine signs](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/8hh3vb0408a2568kv0watx87w0w14058.jpg)
Gavi must ensure more children get new, more affordable pneumonia vaccine
![Measles outbreak in Maiduguri Measles outbreak in Maiduguri](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/w22ch3r8261213is4753vt2b1ih7fhn3.jpg)
Medical assistance urgently needed outside northeast ‘garrison’ towns
![MSF stunt at Gavi replenishment meeting Berlin MSF stunt at Gavi replenishment meeting Berlin](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/63lf5tg03d5d43dx2oj4ka7855lri242.jpg)
Pharma giants shouldn’t receive multi-million dollar pneumonia vaccine subsidy
![2018 Union Conference - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) protest 2018 Union Conference - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) protest](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/7e5xaq0e14im1e534cw0pbv6ht86026g.jpg)
MSF protests at TB conference against drug corporations keeping lifesaving medicines from people
![OLEG Story: "I’d been through many things in my life, but I’d never experienced anything like it.” OLEG Story: "I’d been through many things in my life, but I’d never experienced anything like it.”](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0bl05hi0y13pxv52xky04mymbo5827on.jpg)
TB drug delamanid must be more affordable and made available in more countries
![Johnson & Johnson demonstration - bedaquiline Johnson & Johnson demonstration - bedaquiline](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/hhwe621l11r6a3rb4mj2hmv6665yg8h4.jpg)
MSF demands Johnson & Johnson reduce price of lifesaving TB drug
![Insein clinic, for treatment for HIV, TB, and Hepatitis C in Yangon. By Alessandro Penso, Feb 2018. Insein clinic, for treatment for HIV, TB, and Hepatitis C in Yangon. By Alessandro Penso, Feb 2018.](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/b273k31ym8j8n8q5qkbb5e02ypr5hvh1.jpg)