A new, tighter analytical framework for 2021

The 2021 Access to Medicine Index is based on a new analytical framework of three Technical Areas, and 14 priority themes for corporate activity. Per area, companies’ policies and practices are measured by indicators that correspond to pharmaceutical companies’ core role for improving access to medicine. The new analytical framework for 2020 has a tighter structure, with 33 indicators grouped into three Technical Areas: Governance of Access, Research & Development and Product Delivery.

3 core areas of responsibility

A Governance of Access Looking at how companies govern, plan for and manage the achievement of access-linked objectives, while ensuring they apply processes that minimise the risk of non-compliant or corrupt behaviour occurring. It looks at access-to-medicine strategies, including whether they are aligned with corporate strategies, and how progress towards access to medicine objectives is measured and incentivised.

B Research & Development Looking at pharmaceutical companies R&D activities to develop or adapt products for the diseases,conditions and pathogens within the Index scope, and in response to the needs of people living in low- and middle-income countries. It also examines whether companies put plans in place during development to accelerate access to successful products for people living in low- and middle-income countries.

C Product Delivery Looking at companies’ post-development actions on the ground to ensure they offer equitable access to their products and overcome any local barriers in accessing hard-to-reach markets and patient populations. They can then use three main access strategies: equitable pricing, responsible IP management and product donations. These are considered to have the biggest potential impact on supply and affordability. Actions such as sharing intellectual property and health-system strengthening are also considered here.

Distilling global priorities for access

Each Access to Medicine Index is the product of a two-year process known as the ‘Index cycle’, which begins with a review of the Index methodology. This process aligns the Index metrics with changes in access-to-medicine priorities and stakeholder consensus on what we expect from pharmaceutical companies to improve access to medicine. We also use the review to reaffirm the robustness of the next Index analysis, and ensure our capacity for trend analysis is maintained.

The latest review, held in 2019, led to the methodology for the 2021 Access to Medicine Index.