Access to Medicine Index flags slowing momentum, especially in LMICs

The article begins with an in-depth look at the 2024 Index rankings for 20 pharmaceutical companies, highlighting that, although strides have been made in improving access to medicines for people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), overall progress remains slow. 

It then reflects the 'Industry Trends' section of the 2024 Index, which provides an extensive analysis of industry performance across three key areas: Governance of Access, Research & Development (R&D), and Product Delivery. The Index highlights progress in corporate strategies to expand access to medicine, with more companies incorporating all therapeutic areas and increasing board-level accountability for access initiatives. However, challenges persist, including slow progress in measuring patient reach and limited geographic coverage for new innovations in LMICs. Meanwhile, R&D efforts to address priority diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis are declining, with fewer pipeline projects and significant gaps in access planning, particularly for non-communicable diseases. In addition, while companies demonstrate strong efforts in health system strengthening, supply chain improvements, and donation programs, the use of voluntary licensing and equitable access strategies remains limited, leaving significant disparities in LMICs unaddressed.