The changing story of access to medicine

The article discusses various efforts made by pharma companies, as reflected in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index, to improve access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).  While some pharma companies prioritise LMICs in their business strategies, the 2024 Index reveals a concerning decline in the industry's overall commitment to ensuring equitable access to essential healthcare products in these regions compared to a decade ago.

The article reflects a growing trend, as outlined in the 2024 Index, where companies increasingly prioritise high-income countries for clinical trials, thereby limiting access to innovative treatments in LMICs. It also points out that many firms now concentrate technology transfer efforts on a few countries, with too few voluntary licensing agreements for their patented products in LMICs.

The article quotes Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, “There are two very specific, proven ways in which companies can directly contribute to improving local availability, which is licensing and technology  transfers, and these tools are available to them, and we do need to see more expansion, and companies leveraging those opportunities to really partner up with the right manufacturers to be able to make this happen."

While these efforts represent steps toward improving access, the article—and the 2024 Index—suggests that more comprehensive and enforceable strategies are needed to ensure sustainable progress in LMICs.