A research programme by the Access to Medicine Foundation
The foundation

Access to Medicine Foundation

The Foundation stimulates and guides pharmaceutical companies to do more to improve access to medicine. It is an independent non-profit organisation.
Our programmes

Access to Medicine Index

Ranks 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies based on their efforts to address access to medicine, including in strategy, governance, R&D and pricing. By publicly recognising the best performers, the Index spurs companies to compete to be the best.

Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark

Tracks what the 17 most active companies in antimicrobial R&D and manufacturing are doing to bring antimicrobial resistance under control. By assessing the level of action, it provides a reality check on progress against AMR.

Access to Vaccines Index

Reports what vaccine companies are doing to ensure all children can be immunised wherever they live. By uncovering what is working and where, this Index helps ensure vaccine markets also reach the poorest and most remote communities.
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Feature - 24 Mar 2021

Analysis: Handful of new children’s meds on the horizon. But will they be accessible to children in LMICs?

Analysis from the Access to Medicine Index shows that just 7% of pharmaceutical companies’ R&D is for children under 12, despite significant gaps in paediatric treatment options. Some game-changing medicines are on the horizon.

2021 Access to Medicine Index: latest analysis of pharma action.

The Index reports how 20 pharma companies make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics more accessible for people in low- and middle-income countries.

Key finding

R&D for COVID-19 has increased, yet other pandemic risks go unaddressed

R&D for COVID-19 has increased, yet other pandemic risks go unaddressed

Despite years of warnings that novel coronaviruses were among the pathogens most likely to cause a global health emergency, the pharmaceutical industry, as well as society at large, was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key finding

Less than half of key products are covered by access strategies in poorer countries

Less than half of key products are covered by access strategies in poorer countries

Low-income countries are most consistently overlooked when pharma companies apply equitable pricing, voluntary licensing and donations initiatives. Many products analysed are not covered by access strategies in any out of 106 countries.

News related to the Access to Medicine Index

01 Mar 2022

Three ways to fix healthcare supply chains and improve global health security

The global supply of essential medicines and vaccines is currently highly vulnerable to disruption, risking devastating shortages. At the Foundation's latest 'Virtual Event', leading experts identified strategies to strengthen global health supply chain.

10 Jan 2022

Foundation to deepen its work moving pharma companies on access to diabetes care

In 2022, we will assess the best solutions for pharma companies to build sustainable, equitable access to diabetes care for the millions of diabetes patients in low- and middle-income countries.

15 Jul 2021

7 lessons from COVID-19 for pharma companies

To speed the end of the pandemic, and support a recovery that leaves no-one behind, the Access to Medicine Foundation convened an expert roundtable of pharmaceutical companies and investors to share lessons learned to date.

16 Jun 2021

Global oxygen suppliers commit to closing oxygen gaps in low- and middle-income countries

Two of the world’s largest medical oxygen suppliers have agreed to work with the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce to increase access to medical oxygen in LMICs.

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"There have been massive improvements in global health in the past decades, with all major pharmaceutical companies taking action. To close the gaps that remain, a greater diversity of companies must get involved and stay engaged."

Jayasree K. Iyer

CEO, Access to Medicine Foundation

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