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COVID-19: How the pandemic is impacting access to medicines
The Access to Medicine index measures how far 20 of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies go in fulfilling access to essential medicines for people living in low- and middle-income countries, who account for 83 per cent of people alive today. Jayasree Iyer, Executive Director of the Access to Medicine Foundation says the stark reality is that billions of people in these countries are still at the back of the queue for vaccines and treatments. He spoke to CNBC Africa for more.
Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:45:29 GMT
Disclaimer: The following content is generated automatically by a GPT AI and may not be accurate. To verify the details, please watch the video
AI Generated Summary
- The pharmaceutical industry has made some progress in improving access to essential medicines, but significant gaps remain, particularly in low-income countries.
- Vaccine equity remains a pressing issue, with countries capable of paying securing a larger share of vaccines, leaving vulnerable populations behind.
- Efforts to address pandemic risks beyond COVID-19 are lacking, emphasizing the need for early engagement and production planning by global pharmaceutical companies.
The Access to Medicine index measures how far 20 of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies go in fulfilling access to essential medicines for people living in low and middle income countries, who account for 83 percent of people alive today. Jayasree Iyer, Executive Director of the Access to Medicine Foundation, highlighted the stark reality that billions of people in these countries are still at the back of the queue for vaccines and treatments. During a discussion on CNBC Africa, Iyer discussed the key findings and trends in the pharmaceutical industry's efforts to improve access to essential products. While there have been some incremental advancements, a significant portion of the progress is limited to only a few countries. Most companies have historically focused on bringing products to markets in the US and Europe, but there is now a notable shift towards increasing strategic focus in regions like Africa. Specifically, eight companies have committed to enhancing access for products in low-income countries through various measures like enabling affordability and expanding supply. This marks a pivotal moment in how new innovations are reaching patients worldwide. However, despite these initiatives, less than half of the key products controlled by pharmaceutical companies through patents or market dominance are reaching patients globally. Moreover, while there has been a surge in research and development for COVID-19 vaccines, emerging infectious diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Chikangonia continue to receive inadequate attention and innovation from pharmaceutical companies. The shortfall in access is particularly acute in the lowest income countries, which are home to over 700 million people. To address the inequities in vaccine distribution, Iyer emphasized the importance of advocacy and collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and governments worldwide. Vaccine equity remains a significant concern, with countries capable of paying securing a larger share of vaccines, leaving others behind. Efforts to match vaccine distribution with disease burden and engage early in research and development are crucial steps in ensuring global vaccine access. Recent initiatives like the African vaccine acquisition task team, established by the African Union, aim to secure millions of vaccine doses for African countries by engaging directly with pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, technology transfer and local manufacturing partnerships in regions like sub-Saharan Africa can bolster vaccine supply and production. Despite significant progress in research and development for COVID-19 treatments, Iyer highlighted the lack of parallel efforts for other pandemic risks. Diseases like Chikangonia, Yellow Fever, and Nipa virus pose ongoing threats of epidemic potential, necessitating early engagement and production capacity planning from global pharmaceutical companies. While existing systems like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Gavi play a crucial role in enabling access, stronger partnerships and political will are essential to ensure equitable access to essential medicines for vulnerable populations worldwide. The pharmaceutical industry and government leaders must collaborate to bridge the access gap and prevent vulnerable patients from being left behind in times of global health crises.
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