Who we are

The Latin American Network for Access to Medicines, also known as RedLAM, is established with the main objective of working jointly and collaboratively in Latin America to improve access to treatment and health services.

RedLAM is made up of non-profit organizations based and actively working in Latin American countries, whose aim is to help improve universal and timely access to medical technologies and health services, in order to guarantee the full exercise of the Right to Health of the populations affected by diseases such as HIV, TB, viral hepatitis and cancer, among others.

RedLAM was founded by Acción Internacional para la Salud (AIS), based in Lima, Peru; the Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA), based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Fundación Grupo Efecto Positivo (Fundación GEP), based in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Fundación IFARMA, based in Bogotá, Colombia.

RedLAM membership may be expanded when and under the conditions decided by the Regional Council at the annual general assembly of members. Proposals for new members must be submitted by a RedLAM member.

The specific objectives of RedLAM are:

4.1. Promote the improvement of public policies at the national, regional and global levels on access to treatment and health services.

4.2. Implement programs aimed at removing barriers to access to medicines and other medical technologies, and to health services.

4.3. Promote the capacity building of leaders in the region and the strengthening of their organizations, in order to improve the quality of life of the populations affected by these diseases.

4.4. Promote South-South cooperation among organizations in the region to improve public policies related to the objectives of RedLAM and its members.

To achieve its objectives, RedLAM will promote activities such as:

5.1. Gathering and generating knowledge on access to medicines and health services, and on intellectual property, through studies and research.

5.2. Carrying out advocacy actions in the region to improve public policies on access to medicines and health services.

5.3. Promoting and using public health safeguards.

5.4. Running regional training courses to promote leadership among the communities most affected by these diseases.

5.5. Promoting community mobilization actions to improve access to treatment and public health in general.

5.6. Carrying out any other actions that RedLAM members consider necessary to achieve the objectives of RedLAM.

RedLAM is governed by a Regional Council made up of 2 representative delegates elected by each member organization.

The Regional Council also includes a RedLAM Regional Coordinator, democratically elected by the General Assembly of the Council from among its members.

The work of RedLAM is coordinated by a regional coordinator, elected by the General Assembly of the Council from among the members of the Council.

RedLAM promotes the leadership of people living with HIV, or people belonging to the populations affected by these diseases, in the role of coordinator.

The coordinator holds office for 2 years from their appointment, and the term may be renewed by decision of the Council.

The financial management and administration of programs and projects may be carried out by any of the member organizations, as decided by the Regional Council. This role will rotate as the Council deems appropriate, taking into account the conditions, circumstances and requirements of each funding call.

At the annual meeting of the Regional Council, the organization or organizations managing project or program funds must submit a financial and management report to account to the Council. The Council is responsible for approving the accounts.

To ensure the functioning and development of RedLAM activities and the achievement of its objectives, the Regional Council will work together with the Regional Coordinator to mobilize financial resources. The Regional Council will assess funding opportunities and decide which calls to apply for, in line with the objectives of RedLAM, always maintaining political and financial independence from pharmaceutical laboratories and companies.

RedLAM member organizations will sign a Memorandum of Understanding when submitting funding applications, in order to define the objectives and activities of the program or project, the role of each organization in its implementation, and which RedLAM member organization will be fiscally and administratively responsible and will represent RedLAM in the application and implementation of the funding.

RedLAM member organizations that do not act as fiscal agent must collaborate with the general administration in preparing financial and management reports, in accordance with the requirements of the donor.

RedLAM will maintain fluid communication channels among its members, through which regional collaboration in the implementation of regional activities and programs will be encouraged.

RedLAM will promote communication campaigns to raise public awareness of the strategies and objectives it works on.

RedLAM will work for the broad and regular dissemination of the activities and campaigns carried out at the national level in the different countries.

At least once every two years, RedLAM will hold a Regional Council meeting to review and update the four-year regional strategic plan that will guide the work of the network. Organizations and experts in RedLAM’s field of work may take part in the strategic planning meeting, if the Regional Council so decides.

Through its Regional Council, and with the active participation of the Regional Coordinator, RedLAM will promote internal training activities for its members and for the work teams of each member organization.

RedLAM will promote regional courses to support the capacity building of leaders in the region, in order to encourage their involvement in advocacy actions to improve public policies.