How improving access to essential medicines can help reduce inequities

In a recent op-ed for the World Economic Forum, Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO of the Access to Medicine Foundation, writes on the crucial role of the generics and biosimilars industry in promoting global access to essential medicines and addresses the measures the public sector can take to foster resilient supply chains.

The op-ed emphasises the various opportunities available to the generic medicine industry to improve access to essential medicines. These opportunities include expanding local manufacturing, facilitating technology transfers, revamping regulatory systems, and investing in adaptive research and development (R&D).

Jayasree also emphasises the role of governments and multinational health organisations in scaling up access to essential medicines.

"We cannot afford to wait for the next health crisis or pandemic to ramp up investments in local manufacturing capacity and to overhaul the procurement and regulatory systems that billions of people in LMICs need to ensure access to essential medicines."