Access to affordable medicines is a growing global dilemma. More than 2 billion people in developed, emerging and developing economies don’t have access to the life-saving medicines they need, and far too many are being pushed into bankruptcy or below the poverty line due to health costs. We’ve been tracking efforts around the world that seek to address this issue. Here are five recent calls and initiatives to make medicines more affordable:
1. United States: 115 doctors press for new regulations to control soaring prices of cancer drugs
More than 100 doctors from top cancer hospitals in the U.S. have objected to soaring cancer drug prices, and have called for new regulations to control them. In the past five years, 15 new cancer drugs have entered the market with price tags of at least $10,000. Rising costs of cancer drugs are raising the stakes for patients, often forcing a hard choice between spending their incomes and liquidating their assets, or forgoing treatment to support their families. Learn more.
2. Australia: Revolutionary melanoma drug worth $150,000 made more affordable
The Federal Government of Australia will invest $57 million to list a breakthrough melanoma drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making the drug more affordable to more than 1,000 Australians living with the disease. According to Grant McArthur – Oncology Professor at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, the listing of this drug on the PBS shows “what can happen when everyone works together to get these drugs listed quickly…if we work together we can speed up access to cancer drugs”. Learn more.
3. Vatican City: The Vatican calls for greater access to medicines for Least Developed Countries
Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi delivered a speech to the World Trade Organization calling for waivers for the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) from certain obligations of intellectual property treaties in order to give them better access to essential medicines and vaccines, with particular focus on those living with HIV/AIDS. In 2011, of the 34 million people living with HIV worldwide, some 9.7 million lived in LDCs. Of these, 4.6 million were in need of antiretroviral treatment; however only 2.5 million received it. Read the full speech.
4. South Africa: Leading health organizations join fight for affordable medicines
Twelve leading organizations in South Africa, which includes patient groups, have joined Fix the Patent Laws, which pushes for reform of the country’s current patent laws that, in their views, restrict access to to affordable medicines for all people living in South Africa. Read more about the initiative and supporting organizations here.
5. India: Provision of affordable AIDS medicine will continue, despite pressure
India has reaffirmed its determination to continue providing affordable medicines to everyone with HIV, despite pressure from trade organizations to stop making generic AIDS drugs. India is the largest producer of generic HIV drugs that are provided at relatively cheaper prices compared to branded names. The UN and other organisations estimate that more than 80% of the medicines, known as anti-retroviral therapy, in Africa come from India. Learn more.
