Devex: Reaching the last mile: The future of medicine access for everyone
Edward Wilson, director of John Snow, Inc.’s Center for Health Logistics

“…Universal health coverage requires universal access to medicines, vaccines, and other health commodities. … But there’s still a long way to go, especially in reaching every person, every community at the last mile, in a way that saves lives, empowers communities, and builds resilient and equitable health systems. … Most of the people who lack access to medicines and vaccines today are either the most remote … or the most economically impoverished … Building supply chains for universal coverage — covering the last mile to each of them — requires innovation, creativity, commitment, and a willingness to bear the costs. … [I]t’s critical that we never lose sight of our goal; getting products to people. … Supply chains must be agile enough, smart enough, and resourced enough to respond to [their] needs” (8/8).