Foundation names Expert Review Committee for next Access to Medicine Index

The research team reviews the Index methodology every two years. This keeps the Index focused on where pharma companies have the biggest potential and responsibility to make change. Previous methodology reviews increased the Index's emphasis on R&D and pricing.

"This year's methodology review will be an important reflection point because we are able to draw on the findings from our recent 10-year analysis, which gives us new insight into how pharmaceutical companies have changed when it comes to improving access to medicine." – Danny Edwards, Research Programme Manager for the Access to Medicine Index

The 2019 Expert Review Committee
The ERC is Chaired by Hans Hogerzeil, former WHO Director for Essential Medicines Policies. The members of the ERC are drawn from governments, NGOs, patient groups, WHO, industry associations, academia and investors.

• Chair of the Committee, Hans Hogerzeil, Emeritus Professor of Global Health at the University of Groningen and former WHO Director for Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies

• Emily Bleimund, Director of Trade and Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Global Affairs

• Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa

• Fumie Griego, Deputy Director General and Chief Operating Officer at IFPMA 

• Kibachio Joseph Muiruri Mwangi, Head of the Department of Strategic National Public Health Programs, Ministry of Health, Kenya

• Andrew Rintoul, Scientist, WHO Essential Medicines and Health Products  

• Dennis Ross-Degnan, Associate Professor at the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Research at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

• Alan Staple, Vice President and Head of the Global Market Access Team, The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)   

• Yo Takatsuki, Head of ESG Research and Active Ownership, AXA Investment
  Managers

• Prashant Yadav, Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development, and Affiliate Professor of Technology and Operations at INSEAD.

The ERC will meet in person for the first time in Amsterdam in October 2019, when it discusses the methodology proposals currently being prepared by the Index research team. The methodology for the next Access to Medicine Index will be ratified by the ERC before being published by the Foundation in the Spring of 2020.

2019 Index Methodology Review – where are we now?
In preparation for the October meeting, the research team has been stress-testing the 68 indicators used in the 2018 Access to Medicine Index. This assesses the indicator's effectiveness at comparing how companies are performing. 

The team is holding consultations with a broad range of experts and stakeholders, including from governments, the global health and investor communities, and from pharmaceutical companies. These discussions are based around targeted questions relating to the methodology and analysis, and reveal consensus on the role for pharmaceutical companies in access to medicine.

Danny Edwards: "Currently, we're talking to experts to hone the core role for pharmaceutical companies to achieve SDG 3, which includes achieving widespread access to medicine. Our conversations right now are on the importance of R&D, affordability, how quality healthcare products are brought to the market, supplied and delivered, and what companies should be doing to support the environment in which this all takes place."

About the Access to Medicine Index
The Access to Medicine Index ranks 20 of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies every two years on their actions to improve access to medicine for people living in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, the Index covered 106 low- and middle-income countries, home to 83% of all people alive today. The companies in the 2018 Index account for approximately 70% of global pharmaceutical revenue. The Access to Medicine Index is funded by the UK and Dutch governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.