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Improving access to medicines, both in the developed and the developing world
Malaria: Reality bites
Access to healthcare remains a complex challenge in many parts of the developed and developing world. We are committed to finding innovative solutions in order to provide medicines to those who need them most.
The race
The stark reality is that almost half
of the world’s population is at risk
of contracting malaria. Worldwide, the
WHO estimates there are 500 million
cases each year.
Poverty and a lack of political determination mean that countless people around the globe are denied access to the medicines that they need. Millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa exist on less than $1 a day. Many people struggle to afford basic headache pills, so relatively expensive treatments such as those for malaria and HIV/AIDS are even more inaccessible. Little wonder, perhaps, that child mortality is 29 times that of industrialised countries.
A significant increase in funding is required. Sustainable progress will only be achieved if the barriers to access – financial and cultural – are addressed by all sectors of society: governments, international agencies, charities, academic institutions and, yes, pharmaceutical companies such as GSK.
The response
We work to make a difference in
four ways:
- Through R&D into the diseases particularly prevalent in the developing world. This work is funded through a combination of GSK-funded programmes and innovative public-private partnerships like the Medicines for Malaria Venture
- Through our programme of preferential pricing for antimalarials, HIV/AIDS medicines and vaccines
- Through voluntary licensing of our key HIV/AIDS medicines to generic manufacturers in Africa
- Through community investment programmes, such as those outlined in the Running our business responsibly section
In terms of malaria, we have made good progress. Phase III studies began for a potential new antimalarial treatment and phase II trials for our malaria vaccine are progressing well. We also continue to make all our antimalarials available at not-for-profit prices to a wide range of countries. These prices cover our costs but we do not make a profit. This means we can sustain supply of these products for as long as they are needed. And GSK’s African Malaria Partnership is working to increase awareness, political commitment and funding to combat this disease through many advocacy initiatives.
Access to medicines: making the difference
We find innovative ways to bring medicines and vaccines to patients who need them, in both the developing and developed world
“There has always been a healthcare crisis in the developing world,” says Jon Pender, a Director in our Government Affairs team with responsibility for access issues. “For example, many Africans in the Sub-Saharan region don’t have enough food or water, let alone medicines.”
“But we can still make a difference. JP Garnier is on record as saying that he wants to provide medicines to all patients, not just the world’s richest people. That sounds like a nice line in corporate mantra, but actually it’s the sincerely-held view of all of us at GSK.”
Making a difference to HIV/AIDS patients
In total, including eligible Global Fund and PEPFAR (US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) projects, our HIV/AIDS and malaria treatments are offered at not-for-profit prices to eligible customers in over 100 countries, many of which have very low healthcare budgets.
“In 2006, manufacturing efficiencies reduced the cost of making some of our HIV/AIDS products by up to 30 per cent and we passed these savings on in terms of lower prices. We also added two antiretrovirals (ARVs) to the portfolio of not-for-profit medicines,” says Jon. “In September, we announced an agreement with the Russian Government to supply over 90,000 treatment packs of ARVs by the year end. The first direct, federal purchase of ARVs in Russia, this included supplies of Combivir, Epivir and Ziagen, which are mainstay treatments for HIV.”
In addition, we have now granted a total of eight voluntary licences for our key HIV/AIDS medicines to generic manufacturers in Africa.
We also operated 19 HIV/AIDS projects in local communities worldwide through our Positive Action programme to help overcome poor understanding of transmission, diagnosis and the stigma associated with this disease.
Helping people in the developed world
In 2006, our US access programmes provided medicines to over 400,000 US residents with low income. And, in 2007, we have launched a new initiative called GSK Access to offer help to certain Medicare-eligible patients who need additional assistance.
“Even though the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit has been a great success for many, we know that there are still patients who may need help in getting their medicines,” says Chris Viehbacher, President of our US Pharmaceuticals business. “Most eligible patients can get GSK medicines for free before they reach the gap in Medicare coverage known as the ‘donut hole’.
“Following the introduction of Part D, around 25 to 30 per cent of those on our patient assistance programmes are now eligible for Medicare and they no longer need to rely on GSK, which explains why the value of our product donations was down this year against 2005, from $464 million to $370 million.
“Nevertheless, we still gave away products valued at $1 million (wholesale acquisition cost) every single day of the year in 2006.”
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Supporting people in need
A 50-year-old self-employed construction worker from Virginia in the US, William suffers from asthma. He cannot afford health insurance – the cost would consume more than half of his income.
Access to health care and medication to treat disease can be as much of an issue in the developed world as it is in places like Africa. In the US, more than 46 million people lacked health insurance in 2006 (source: US Census Bureau).
Through the RxPartnership, GSK provides medication to free clinics that treat low-income, medically-uninsured people. The Rockbridge Area Free Clinic is one of 53 free clinics that serve over 61,000 low-income people in Virginia. One such individual is William, who takes our medicine Advair.
“Once I started taking Advair, I could breathe so much easier,” he says. “I feel so much better and can do more at work. In addition to asthma, I also have hypertension. My wife suffers from hypertension, diabetes and associated neuropathy, and heart disease. We receive all of our care from the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic and between us we take 15 medications every month.”
The cost of these medications at a retail pharmacy would exceed $1,000 per month – an impossibility, given William’s low income.
