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The Index methodology was developed, and

is coninually reined, in consultaion with
muliple stakeholders including the World Health

Organizaion, NGOs, governments and universiies,
as well as 33 insituional investors. The Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundaion, the Dutch Ministry of
Foreign Afairs, the UK Department for Internaional

Development and other charitable organizaions

fund the Index.

So, has the Index changed the issue of securing
“sustainable access to medicines” to those 2 million

people since its incepion in 2004?

“Understanding the progress that has been made
is quite complex, since these quesions require ‘on

the ground’ data, which some companies are now
tracking themselves,” says Wim. “However, we feel

it is too early to make a statement about this. With
the new Index coming ın November 2014, we expect
om
to have more data on these topics - because this is ss.c
pre
a quesion which we have put out to the companies ox
we measure. We also expect to have a granular hot
p
overview of the R&D pipeline and products in the
market, for the 47 diseases with the highest burden.”
While key aspects of the Index methodology have The survey also requests details of company

remained the same to enable comparability over products that can be used to prevent, diagnose,
In the meanime, the non-proit has started with a ime, some strategic changes have been made to treat or manage a set of 47 high-burden diseases,

longitudinal analysis to see which areas companies the 2014 Index. In order to capture eforts to meet namely all relevant medicines, microbicides,
are really improving in. This aricle was also paient needs, the 2014 Index will place greater therapeuic and prevenive vaccines, diagnosics,

published as a leter in the Lancet Global Health, emphasis on how companies assess and target vector-control products and plaform
which Wim says shows that the industry (or at least local public health needs as part of their overall technologies. This includes informaion about

the 20 companies the Access to Medicine Index access strategy, R&D strategy, pricing strategies, both exising products and those currently
“
measures) have signiicantly improved their R&D capability advancement iniiaives, product travelling along the R&D pipeline; as well as
eforts.
donaions and philanthropic aciviies.
pricing strategies, patent status, and individual

access programs for each product.
“This is, of course, the basis of geing life-saving

products to the people most in need. More The Index’s role is to Wim says the ATMI is sill in the process of being
companies are now developing more products for built.

more diseases than in 2010. It will be interesing to provide the insight
see when the products get to the market, how they “It’s sill very young. It’s fascinaing to see the
into industry-leading
will reach the people who need them most.”
pharmaceuical industry cooperaing so well to
give all their data and to share their best pracices
pracices and a basis
The new 2014 ATMI scores companies on their with one another. It’s also good to see that the
for comparison
commitments, performance, innovaion and level ATMI is also copied in other sectors like the food
of transparency across seven areas of acivity sector for malnutriion and obesity.
” between peers so that
considered key to improving access to medicine.
The companies are graded on more than 100 factors companies can push “The role of pharmaceuical companies in

covering these areas, including whether they are advancing access to medicine is changing; the
developing new drugs for neglected diseases, themselves further.
global health community and society as a whole

to what extent they facilitate or resist eforts to have increased expectaions of the private sector
create generic versions of their drugs, and how they and are looking for more conscious capitalism,”

approach pricing in developing countries. Lobbying says Wim. “The leading companies clearly
aciviies, markeing ethics, product donaions and The survey covers a broad range of areas: general understand this and since we began tracking their

other philanthropic aciviies are also tracked.
access-to-medicine management; pricing, eforts in 2008, the Index has shown that they are

manufacturing & distribuion; public policy & moving forward, but the Index’s role is to provide
The survey for the 2014 Index captures companies’ market inluence; patents & licensing; research the insight into industry-leading pracices and

policies and pracices regarding access to medicine & development; capability advancement; and a basis for comparison between peers so that
in 106 low-income and middle-income countries.
donaions & philanthropy.
companies can push themselves further.

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