It requires supplies, buildings, information systems, supervisors. We will hear in this meeting about huge differences in access to health services that exist between and within countries. A substantial increase in development assistance can make a difference. We now suspect that this estimate might be a little low. This then is the background against which we must frame our discussions and measure our progress.
Drug prices are critically important.
New financing even more so. But we must never forget that some of the most basic problems of development are not going to be amenable to quick-fix solutions. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me turn now to meeting itself . We have a unique opportunity over the next three days. WHO s collaboration with WTO has helped to bring together an extraordinarily exciting and knowledgeable group of people, representing some of the most important actors concerned with access to essential drugs in the world today.