© UNDP MDGs

• Alongside researching and developing new medicines and vaccines the R&D-based pharmaceutical industry works to reduce mortality and morbidity, through multi-stakeholder dialogue, philanthropic partnerships, donations, and not-for-profit The IFPMA Health Partnerships Directory documents over 200 public-private partnerships in 2010, demonstrating the industry’s solid track record working with governments, international agencies, civil society, faith-based groups, academic institutions, and communities. 
• During the 2000-2007 period, half the timeframe for MDG achievement, IFPMA Members have made available nearly USD 10 billion dollars’ worth of health assistance for access and capacity building in developing countries, and over 1.3 billion public health interventions.(i)

Background

The R&D-based pharmaceutical industry is committed to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG), including number 4—reduce child mortality rates—number 5—improve maternal health—number 6—combat HIV/AIDS and malaria—and number 8—develop a global partnership for development. On the latter, target 8e calls for “cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, [to] provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries”. IFPMA members has used this unprecedented opportunity to boost industry efforts to reach these goals.

The achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 requires effective and timely multi-stakeholder cooperation. Through 10 years of partnerships, IFPMA and its members have advocated for the strengthening of healthcare systems across the low and middle income countries; predictable and sustainable financing mechanisms; reduction of add-on costs of medicines along the supply chain; and for more effective multi-stakeholder cooperation that reaches the largest proportion of population in need.

Weak and fragmented health systems, inadequate resources as well as a serious shortage of doctors, nurses and pharmacists are obvious barriers to access to healthcare. Any improvement made today will strengthen the ability of countries to develop sustainable systems that can meet tomorrow's challenges. Efforts should also be devoted to the regulatory arena, through harmonization, mutual recognition, and safeguarding of high quality standards.

Success for the innovative pharmaceutical industry is built on long-term, high-risk investment that delivers medicines to patients wherever they are. Our partners—today and in the future—can count on our longstanding commitment to achieve the health-related MDGs.

(i) Critical Review of the IFPMA Health Partnerships Survey 2007, LSE Health, London School of Economics & Political Science (2008)