Jayasree K. Iyer unpacks the 2024 Access to Medicine Index findings on CNBC Africa

Jayasree emphasises that while inadequate infrastructure, regulatory capacity, and a lack of sustained financing are significant challenges, the key barrier to accessing pharmaceutical innovations is the tendency of large pharma companies to prioritise profitable markets in the US and Europe. This often results in many regions in Africa being overlooked.

In addressing the stagnation of voluntary licensing agreements in Africa, she stresses the importance of demonstrating to the pharma industry that African nations are not only capable of purchasing medicines but also able to maintain a consistent demand. She also highlights the need for African manufacturers to strengthen their capacity and meet the required quality standards to secure licences from major pharma companies, thereby helping to close the existing gaps.

She then points to another concerning finding from the 2024 Index: pharma companies often prioritise market access in countries where clinical trials are conducted, leaving the African region behind and exacerbating the inequitable access to, and unavailability of, medicines for those who need them most.

When asked how inclusive business models can be implemented to reach underserved populations, Jayasree explains that it is essential to integrate patient reach strategies and establish clear metrics to track the actual reach. She also emphasises the need for a strong commitment from companies and their partners to effectively execute these models.

Jayasree also highlights the crucial role of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) in expediting the registration and availability of medicines, as well as in monitoring the impact of specific healthcare products across the region. She encourages companies to engage with AMA initiatives by ensuring that products developed for other markets are also accessible through AMA.