The international community (led by the UN) is engaged in the development of the Post-2015 (post Millenium Development Goals) development agenda which will span the coming 15 years (2016 – 2030). The new so-called “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) goals will be discussed and endorsed at the UN summit in New York at the end of September this year.

Prior to that, a Financing for Development (FfD) conference is taking place Addis Ababa from July 13-16, 2015 and is attended by heads of State and Government, Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, as well as all relevant institutional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and business sector entities.

Both these events (and the processes that led to them) have given/are giving MSF the opportunity to provide input, take a stand on Access to Healthcare issues, and provide a reality check from the field. MSF’s experience and voice are key in that respect, for there is a real concern that the disconnect between rhetoric and policy will increase in the post-2015 environment with a shrinking Official Development Assistance (ODA) envelope having to meet more, rather than less demands. This risks to create gaps in existing health care services and detracting from a proper appraisal of health needs to optimise access and making sure the right people are reached.