Jayasree K. Iyer discusses the role of pharma companies in closing health gaps with a special emphasis on patient reach, on CNBC Africa

Jayasree emphasises the need for pharmaceutical companies to align treatments with the real needs of patients, based on the burden of disease and the number of individuals requiring access. She highlights key barriers to tracking patient reach, including the lack of reliable data and many companies fail to measure or monitor these factors. Additionally, companies often prioritise profitability, focusing on revenue and sales data rather than patient access.

When addressing the disparity in insulin access in Africa, she stresses that expanding patient access should be an integral part of the business strategy for insulin producers, rather than merely a corporate social responsibility initiative. The growing demand for improved, affordable, high-quality medicines in Africa underscores the need for companies to invest in broadening their reach while also exploring emerging markets.

Jayasree advocates for pharmaceutical leaders to ensure that all patients globally have access to life-saving treatments. By identifying gaps in access and encouraging institutional investors to hold companies accountable, she argues that the industry can take access more seriously and expand its impact across more regions.