Farmaceutische bedrijven spannen zich meer in voor arme landen, maar allerarmste vaak over hoofd gezien

In an article published by NRC on the findings of the 2022 Access to Medicine Index, the news outlet noted the overall improvement in pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to expand access to their products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through, for example implementing equitable pricing strategies and by entering voluntary licensing agreements.

However, as is reported by the Index, low-income countries remain widely overlooked. The Access to Medicine Foundation’s Director of Operations and Research, Marijn Verhoef, tells the outlet that while he is happy with the progress, “it is still not nearly enough”.

While the Access to Medicine Foundation recognises change is difficult, findings from the 2022 Index show that companies can be motivated to do more if they know where their shortcomings are. For example, in the previous Index, German pharmaceutical company Bayer had no plans in place to make its products more accessible in LMICs.

Kasper Blom, Researcher at the Foundation, tells the outlet: “We had many conversations with the company and since then it has adjusted its policy strategy.” The 2022 Index shows that of all 20 companies analysed, Bayer now has access plans in place in the most countries in scope of the Index.

Read the full article on the nrc website.