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.
![Essential Hepatitis C medicine Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir Essential Hepatitis C medicine Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/2tf775a0yr2670jc5each0gwyo2v00b8.jpg)
Appeal lodged against decision to uphold Gilead’s patent on hepatitis C drug
![Chiradzulu: HIV care for adolescents Chiradzulu: HIV care for adolescents](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/t0eui6kg22opg732js03dil28o62550i.jpg)
Pharmaceutical corporations are failing children with HIV
![MSF HIV Testing Clinic's in Conakry MSF HIV Testing Clinic's in Conakry](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/utjb4tdxcr4ns6pap2k8g5gl6rm212a3.jpg)
HIV and TB treatment at risk as countries gradually lose Global Fund support
![TB programs in Gulf Province and Port Moresby TB programs in Gulf Province and Port Moresby](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/pg18o4880xs5va1xlrc3606d8myx33yi.jpg)
High prices restrict access to best drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment
![Sibongile Xesha - MSF Treatment For TB in South Africa Sibongile Xesha - MSF Treatment For TB in South Africa](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/4b3k6247r8g62t2y3dq4bvof1b370xy1.jpg)
DR-TB Drugs Under the Microscope, 5th Edition (Abridged)
![Snakebite Amputation Snakebite Amputation](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0cvj525ho0f478o71qb7h332hww5v3yd.jpg)
Time to strike back at snakebite and end the antivenom access crisis
![TB treatments yield promising results in the Chechen Republic TB treatments yield promising results in the Chechen Republic](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0c040601f422xn1cvu1qw50ikmw7l352.jpg)
Open Letter to J&J: Calling for affordable access to critical TB drug bedaquiline
![Out of Darkness- fighting Hepatitis C Out of Darkness- fighting Hepatitis C](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/qu41552o58w3eb7657gif78aqtx838d4.jpg)
MSF calls for end to Gilead’s hepatitis C drug monopoly
![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/x03084u1613rrwcj537umurt7v5o6522.jpg)