Pfizer set to provide 23 free medicines, vaccines to 45 lower-income countries

*Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, says ‘we will work closely with global health leaders to make improvements in diagnosis, education, infrastructure, storage and more’ with a total of 23 medicines to be made available

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In the leading drug manufacturing company’s mission to keep as many consumers healthy and safe as possible, Pfizer has announced a major goodwill effort it calls “Accord for a Healthier World”.

ConsumerConnect learnt the fresh initiative will provide all of Pfizer’s current and future patent-protected medicines and vaccines on a “not-for-profit basis” to 45 lower-income countries in the world.

In line with this move, the company says it could close the health equity gap for over a billion people worldwide.

Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda are the first five countries that have committed to joining the Accord in Africa, agency report said.

Meanwhile, health officials in these countries will help to spot and resolve any hurdles that Pfizer may face, so that the company can learn and enhance the rollout in the rest of the lower-income countries.

Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), stated: “As we learned in the global COVID-19 vaccine rollout, supply is only the first step to helping patients.

“We will work closely with global health leaders to make improvements in diagnosis, education, infrastructure, storage and more.

“Only when all the obstacles are overcome can we end healthcare inequities and deliver for all patients.”

Types of medicines Pfizer is providing beneficiary countries

Pfizer has disclosed its commitment in this regard includes 23 medicines and vaccines that treat infectious diseases, certain cancers, and rare and inflammatory diseases.

These diseases and conditions affect millions of lives each year in the countries the Accord will serve, said the company.

As Pfizer develops and launches new medicines and vaccines, it will also make those products available on a not-for-profit basis, report noted.

One particular focus will be on Group B Streptococcus, a bacteria that commonly lives in people’s gastrointestinal and genital tracts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the bacteria is not harmful and doesn’t make people feel sick most of the time, but it is a leading cause of stillbirth and newborn mortality in low-income countries.

Working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Pfizer is also discussing opportunities to support support Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine development.

Bill Gates said: “Everyone, no matter where they live, should have the same access to innovative, life-saving drugs and vaccines.

“The Accord for a Healthier World could help millions more people in low-income countries get the tools they need to live a healthy life.

“Pfizer is setting an example for other companies to follow.”

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