Unitaid is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For two decades, the organization has worked at the intersection of health innovation and large-scale impact, using catalytic investments, market shaping, and strategic partnerships to speed up access to lifesaving health products around the world.
Over these 20 years, Unitaid has helped bring more than 150 health innovations and products to scale, benefiting approximately 390 million people every year across more than 100 countries. Independent analysis commissioned by Unitaid found that every US$1 invested yields US$46 in return. From more affordable HIV treatment to new tools for hepatitis C and drug-resistant TB, Unitaid’s model of catalytic investment and market shaping has transformed access to lifesaving health products worldwide.
To mark the milestone, Unitaid has released a new anniversary report, From Innovation to Impact, reflecting on two decades of investment and the lessons learned along the way. The report is available at https://20years.unitaid.org/.
Ukraine is among the countries benefiting from this work. With Unitaid’s support, the Alliance for Public Health is expanding access to long-acting injectable (depot) buprenorphine for opioid dependence treatment, alongside low-threshold hepatitis C testing and treatment services designed for communities most affected by the epidemic, including people who inject drugs.
“For 20 years, Unitaid has proven that innovation saves lives only when it reaches the people who need it most. Unitaid has helped bring more than 150 health products and innovations to scale, benefiting approximately 390 million people every year across more than 100 countries, including Ukraine,” said Andriy Klepikov, Executive Director of the Alliance for Public Health. “Together we are bringing breakthrough innovations – from long-acting depot buprenorphine to low-threshold hepatitis C care – to communities long left behind. With Unitaid’s support, we are turning innovation into healthier lives, stronger health systems, and lasting change.“
Alliance for Public Health values Unitaid as one of its key donors and partners, and continues to work closely with Unitaid to expand access to innovative health services for the communities most in need across Ukraine.