A research programme by the Access to Medicine Foundation
The foundation

Access to Medicine Foundation

The Foundation stimulates and guides pharmaceutical companies to do more to improve access to medicine. It is an independent non-profit organisation.
Our programmes

Access to Medicine Index

Ranks 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies based on their efforts to address access to medicine, including in strategy, governance, R&D and pricing. By publicly recognising the best performers, the Index spurs companies to compete to be the best.

Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark

Tracks what the 30 most active companies in antimicrobial R&D and manufacturing are doing to bring antimicrobial resistance under control. By assessing the level of action, it provides a reality check on progress against AMR.

Access to Vaccines Index

Reports what vaccine companies are doing to ensure all children can be immunised wherever they live. By uncovering what is working and where, this Index helps ensure vaccine markets also reach the poorest and most remote communities.
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Feature - 26 Jan 2021

Pharma companies inch forward integrating access to medicine into business practices

There are signs of progress in how pharmaceutical companies integrate access into governance structures, R&D processes and monitoring efforts. Yet initiatives addressing specific products still remain focused on a few countries.

2021 Access to Medicine Index: latest analysis of pharma action.

The Index reports how 20 pharma companies make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics more accessible for people in low- and middle-income countries.

Key finding

R&D for COVID-19 has increased, yet other pandemic risks go unaddressed

R&D for COVID-19 has increased, yet other pandemic risks go unaddressed

Despite years of warnings that novel coronaviruses were among the pathogens most likely to cause a global health emergency, the pharmaceutical industry, as well as society at large, was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key finding

Less than half of key products are covered by access strategies in poorer countries

Less than half of key products are covered by access strategies in poorer countries

Low-income countries are most consistently overlooked when pharma companies apply equitable pricing, voluntary licensing and donations initiatives. Many products analysed are not covered by access strategies in any out of 106 countries.

News related to the Access to Medicine Index

26 Jan 2021

Now online: the 2021 Access to Medicine Index

The Access to Medicine Foundation has published its 7th Access to Medicine Index. Based on a framework of 33 metrics, this latest Index assesses the actions of 20 pharmaceutical companies to improve access to life-saving products.

10 Jul 2020

Will COVID-19 harm or help pharma's access to medicine efforts, asks 2021 Access to Medicine Index

The next Index will be published in January 2021 – one year after China imposed the first lockdown to control COVID-19. It will capture how the world's largest pharmaceutical companies are responding to COVID-19.

09 Jun 2020

Progress against HIV, malaria and TB is under threat, with children at risk. Here’s what is needed.

COVID-19 and drug resistance are threatening to derail the progress made against the 'big three'. Greater momentum is needed to develop new child-friendly meds and to rapidly make them accessible.

20 Mar 2020

100+ investors endorse the Access to Medicine Index

Eight new investors have pledged support to the Foundation’s research and signed the Access to Medicine Index Investor Statement, taking the total number of signatory investors to 103 with total assets under management of USD 14 trillion.

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"There have been massive improvements in global health in the past decades, with all major pharmaceutical companies taking action. To close the gaps that remain, a greater diversity of companies must get involved and stay engaged."

Jayasree K. Iyer

Executive Director Access to Medicine Foundation

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