Op-ed: Climate displacement is also a health crisis

Climate-induced displacement is rapidly escalating, with up to 1.2 billion people expected to be displaced by 2050 due to extreme weather. This crisis threatens both humanitarian and public health, as displaced communities face disruptions to healthcare, food shortages, and unsanitary conditions that fuel the spread of diseases. 

In her Project Syndicate article, Iyer stresses the critical role pharmaceutical companies must play in addressing this crisis, especially in areas most affected, where access to life-saving medicines is scarce. She emphasises the need for a comprehensive strategy, urging the industry to enhance supply chains to ensure medicines reach vulnerable communities in remote areas. This includes redesigning products for hotter climates, strengthening shipping networks to prevent disruption, and implementing systems for the large-scale distribution of generic drugs. 

She also highlights the urgency of investing in research and development (R&D) for vaccines and treatments for climate-sensitive diseases, which are rising due to global temperature shifts. Iyer points to the decline in R&D for emerging pathogens and neglected tropical diseases, as noted in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index, which analyses the efforts of pharmaceutical companies in improving access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries. 

Additionally, she advocates for stronger public-private partnerships, citing successful collaborations like those between vaccine manufacturers and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. She also emphasises the need for companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, given the sector's significant environmental impact.  

Iyer concludes by stressing that the pharmaceutical industry has both a moral responsibility and a strategic interest in acting swiftly. By addressing the health challenges posed by climate displacement, companies can help mitigate the crisis while further strengthening global health resilience.