Coming up: Index briefings to inform policy on global health

In the coming weeks, the Access to Medicine Foundation will hold a series of public events and government briefings about findings from the 2018 Access to Medicine Index. During these meetings, the Foundation's team will also highlight opportunities, gaps and potential paths forward for the public and private sector to work together to improve access to medicine and advance the broader global health agenda. The first three events are with the Swiss and Japanese governments and with Unitaid. From the Foundation, the events will be attended by Damiano de Felice, Director of Strategy and Stefanie Freel, Government Relations Manager.

Government briefing in Bern: Monday 26 November, 2018
The series begins on Monday 26 November with a technical briefing for members of the Swiss Government's Interdepartmental Working Group on Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. 

Technical briefing at Unitaid in Geneva: Tuesday 27 November 2018
The Foundation's team will then present the findings of the 2018 Index at Unitaid. Here, the conversation will focus on what pharmaceutical companies are already and where they can improve when it comes to developing improved health products and to overcoming access barriers for people living with hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and with malaria and tuberculosis.

Roundtable discussion in Tokyo: Tuesday 11 December 2018 
On Tuesday 11 December, the Foundation will jointly host a roundtable discussion with the Health and Global Policy Institute, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in consultation) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The roundtable will be opened by Dr. Yasuhiro Suzuki, Chief Medical and Global Health Officer and Vice-Minister for Health at the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency will act as Discussant. The conversation will highlight the best practices of Japanese pharmaceutical companies, explore opportunities to build on these efforts and discuss pharmaceutical companies' role within the context of Japan's broader global health and foreign policy agenda. 

Looking ahead to 2019: Briefing in Berlin
The Foundation is planning an event in Berlin in the new year to build on Germany's increasing role in global health. It will include key German stakeholders from across the public and private sectors, as well as civil society. Look out for more details. 

Role of the Access to Medicine Foundation
Since 2008, the Access to Medicine Foundation stimulates and guides pharmaceutical companies to do more for the people without access to medicine in low- and middle-income countries. Government representatives use the Foundation's research to inform policy on global health, to prioritise interventions and encourage pharmaceutical companies to do more in key global health areas. The Foundation is planning more events for the coming months as we continue to identify ways our findings can inform the work of government health departments.