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

The first report to compare what pharmaceutical companies are doing to bring antimicrobial resistance under control. By highlighting where good ideas are being implemented, it encourages their wider uptake.

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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Best Practice - 20 Nov 2018

'Live Well' social enterprise model builds local distribution networks in Zambia

GSK uses training and financial assistance to support community members in Zambia in setting up local outlets for health products. Copyright: Marshall Foster 2017

6th Access to Medicine Index: latest analysis of pharma action.

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

Key finding

Five companies are carrying out 63% of the most urgently needed R&D projects

Five companies are carrying out 63% of the most urgently needed R&D projects

Pharmaceutical R&D priorities have been identified for people in low- and middle-income countries. Companies are responding: priority R&D accounts for a fifth of all R&D projects analysed.

Key finding

Most key on-patent products have access initiatives, but these are limited in reach

Most key on-patent products have access initiatives, but these are limited in reach

The Index has identified 53 products that are critical candidates for companies’ access initiatives: they are on-patent, first-line therapies seen as essential for all healthcare systems.

News related to the Access to Medicine Index

29 Nov 2018

Pharmaceutical companies deepen their focus on Africa

The new Access to Medicine Index, published last week, notes increasing interest from multinational pharmaceutical companies in doing business in Africa that benefits people on lower incomes.

05 Nov 2018

Goldman Sachs & UBS to co-host investor launches of 2018 Access to Medicine Index

On Thursday 22 November, Goldman Sachs will co-host the London investor event about the 2018 Index together with the Access to Medicine Foundation.

20 Nov 2018

Coming up: Index briefings to inform policy on global health

The Access to Medicine Foundation will be holding a series of policy and technical briefings with government representatives from Germany, Japan and Switzerland on findings from the 6th Access to Medicine Index.

20 Nov 2018

2018 Access to Medicine Index - news release

The 2018 Access to Medicine Index finds that a handful of pharmaceutical companies are developing the bulk of urgently needed new medicines for the poor.

View all news

What leaders say

I’ve been impressed by the Access to Medicine Index. It presents well-balanced stakeholder views on good practices for the pharmaceutical industry and it provides clear standards against which the performance of individual companies can be judged.

Mary Robinson

President, Realizing Rights, Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), Former President of Ireland (1990-1997)

The Access to Medicine Index is a very important project. What gets measured, gets done.

Dr. Margaret Chan

Former Director General, World Health Organisation

When I talk to executives from pharmaceutical companies they tell me that they want to do more for neglected diseases, but they at least need to get credit for it. The Access to Medicine Index does exactly that.

Bill Gates

Co-chair and Trustee, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

All endorsements

"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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Learn more

View our detailed overview of each company’s performance in the Index, including breakdowns of their product portfolios and R&D pipelines.