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.
![The last frontier The last frontier](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/1c2t314khqg4767i7dwk6n15r64tf7rk.jpg)
Harsh living conditions for migrants in Ventimiglia
![AIDS in era of antiretrovirals AIDS in era of antiretrovirals](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/bxy43ogwh5u2f41v265u57qob663xl16.jpg)
MSF concerned by high numbers of AIDS deaths in sub-Saharan Africa
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MSF strongly condemns the armed robbery of its clinic
![Snakebite Amputation Snakebite Amputation](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0cvj525ho0f478o71qb7h332hww5v3yd.jpg)
MSF welcomes WHO decision to include snakebite on Neglected Tropical Diseases list
![DRC - Tanganyika IDPs may 2017 DRC - Tanganyika IDPs may 2017](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/1yd1346ko8862816fa48358kon18vj1f.jpg)
“If we sit back and do nothing, these people will die”
![MSF Hospital in Bangassou, CAR MSF Hospital in Bangassou, CAR](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/w5e1gp4s8565w35k475op35666abj6s0.jpg)
Unacceptable violence in Bangassou hospital
![Bourbon Argos Rescue 2015 Bourbon Argos Rescue 2015](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0r144dibik581ua12w104375e5d5y23h.jpg)
G7 countries must make bold commitments to humane migration policies
![A Fair Shot petition handover A Fair Shot petition handover](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/8/5/0/f/MSF176673.jpg)
Investors join MSF in calling Pfizer to reduce the price of pneumonia vaccine
![MSF Clinic Hepatitis C Unit MSF Clinic Hepatitis C Unit](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/75cnk0qgp65t7yiir60fd7hv61cki6nh.jpg)