Coalition pledges 120 million affordable COVID-19 tests for low-income countries

A coalition of organizations has announced a major initiative to provide 120 million affordable COVID-19 rapid tests to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The agreement, facilitated by the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, was unveiled on Wednesday and involves key players such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This initiative comes at a critical time as many LMICs continue to struggle with limited access to testing resources. The rapid antigen tests, produced by Abbott and SD Biosensor, will be priced at a maximum of $5 each and will deliver results in just 15 to 30 minutes. This efficiency is crucial for countries with underdeveloped laboratory infrastructures and a shortage of trained health professionals. By making these tests widely available, the initiative aims to enhance testing capabilities, which are essential for effective COVID-19 tracing and treatment strategies.

The Global Fund has pledged an initial $50 million from its COVID-19 Response Mechanism to help countries procure at least 10 million of these rapid tests. Orders are expected to be placed within the week through the Global Fund’s procurement system. Additionally, FIND and WHO will support the optimal use of these tests through implementation research, ensuring that the tests integrate effectively into existing health systems.

As part of the rollout, Unitaid and the Africa CDC plan to deploy these tests in up to 20 African countries starting in October 2020. This multi-faceted approach aims to strengthen the African Union’s efforts to combat COVID-19 through its Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing initiative. The collaboration seeks to leverage various local organizations and health partners to maximize the impact of the testing initiative and ultimately reduce the burden of COVID-19 in affected regions.