Jayasree K. Iyer discusses the role of the generics industry in expanding access to medicine on CNBC Africa

Iyer underlined that, despite the fact that generic and biosimilar medicines are generally priced lower than their brand-name counterparts, they remain unaffordable and unavailable for millions of people living in LMICs.

She discussed the approaches that generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers can take to close the gaps in access to medicine in LMICs. These include product registration in LMICs, more comprehensive access strategies, participation in public sector programmes, engagement with the private sector, implementation of strategies to ensure their products are consistently available, and adapting products to meet the specific needs of people living in LMICs.

"There's a lot that can be done. I think, awareness of generic medicines, awareness of how the industry produces them, what is being produced, and a policy shift and more engagement on this issue can really help solve and bridge some of these gaps."

Iyer also discussed the findings from the latest report, underlining that all five companies analysed in the report have sales presence and four of them have manufacturing facilities in Africa. She emphasised that the report is a particularly valuable tool for African policymakers and healthcare providers as it provides them with insights into potential partners for public-private collaborations. They can adopt some of the best practices the report highlights and use the report's findings to enhance the understanding of the generic and biosimilar medicines access, especially in the context of patient needs.