Introduction

This publication provides an overview of long-term health development programs implemented by the research-based pharmaceutical industry and partners to help achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and improve global health.

Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted by 189 United Nations’ member states in 2000. Some target poverty and illiteracy, but three specifically target health: 4 – Reduce child mortality, 5 – Improve maternal health and 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

Improving health in resource-poor countries presents society with a complex challenge that requires a far larger mobilization of resources, capacities and skills than either the public sector or any single industry can achieve on its own. Public-Private Partnerships have now become a distinctive feature of the healthcare landscape in low- and middle-income countries. Carrying the burden of some of the world’s worst diseases whilst also facing severe shortages of all kinds, these countries need very broad health interventions, which experience has shown can only be delivered through multi-sector partnerships.

In this publication, partnership programs are grouped by disease area. The programs listed in the sections on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Tropical Diseases and Preventable Diseases are focused on MDG 6. A further section is devoted to Child and Maternal Health programs, aimed at MDGs 4 and 5. There is also a section for programs addressing Chronic Diseases, which are not strictly speaking the focus of the MDGs, but which pose a growing health challenge for middle- and even low-income countries, while “Other Health Initiatives” documents programs which are not focused on a specific disease area.

Some partnership programs focus on improving access to medicines, through donations or preferential pricing. Others aim to build health care capacity in recipient countries, primarily by training local health workers, or by providing material support, such as equipment and buildings. Many programs also aim to educate patients or the general population about specific health threats. Finally, there are many partnership programs which are focused on research and development for diseases of the developing world. The program information in this book is also available in searchable form in the IFPMA website, at www.ifpma.org/healthpartnerships/, and on the Global Health Progress website www.globalhealthprogress.org.

The long-term contributions by the pharmaceutical industry to help improve developing world health are substantial. The IFPMA Health Partnerships Survey showed that, in the period 2000 2006, the industry provided enough health interventions – medicines, vaccines, training and education – to help nearly 1.4 billion people in developing countries. This assistance was valued conservatively at USD 6.7 billion (the survey methodology and data have been validated by the London School of Economics and Political Science). This contribution is consistent with the pharmaceutical sector’s established position as a leader in corporate philanthropy. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, the corporate philanthropy forum of global company CEOs, surveyed 136 major corporations’ giving in 2006. Overall, it found companies gave an average of 0.88% of pre-tax profit, but within the Health Sector (in which 10 out of 16 companies are pharmaceuticals) the average was far higher, at 3.70%.¹

While this publication it is not necessarily exhaustive, it does cover the great majority of initiatives currently underway in resource-poor countries. The short description of each program provides a general overview of objectives and achievements but cannot do justice to the economic, organizational and even political challenges that have to be overcome.

The essence of any partnership is that it can only succeed through a collaborative effort on the part of all those willing and able to contribute. The pharmaceutical industry will continue to play its part in working to secure achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by making a sustained contribution to building healthier societies.

Dr. Harvey E. Bale
Director General
IFPMA

¹ See: www.corporatephilanthropy.org/research/pubs/GivinginNumbers2007.pdf