Influenza is a highly infectious disease that usually strikes during the winter season. Globally, it causes an estimated one billion cases of influenza, resulting in 290,000 to 650,000 deaths per year. A person can get the virus simply by being near an infected person that coughs, sneezes or talks, or by touching something with the virus on it. Although everyone can be affected, some people are more at risk than others, such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases (such as heart disease and diabetes), young children, pregnant women and healthcare professionals. The most effective way to prevent the flu is vaccination.
Read moreThis blog was originally published on Health Policy Watch on 7 June 2019. The first-ever United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), scheduled for 23 September 2019, will soon be upon us. The sense of urgency in preparing for this historic milestone in achieving global health progress was palpable during the World...
Read moreJoint statement to Prime Minister Abe from JPMA, IFPMA, PhRMA and EFPIA
Read moreIFPMA, supported by ICBA, share the goal of WHO and its Members to ensure appropriate access to affordable and quality-assured medicines and vaccines as a key component of UHC. We appreciate WHO’s efforts to develop the Roadmap, which could be a useful tool in providing greater clarity between various activities by the Organization. We also...
Read moreSeasonal influenza virus sharing is being negatively impacted due to the national implementation of the Protocol in some countries. Delayed sharing can challenge the timely supply of vaccines and the ability of GISRS to ensure that well-matched vaccines are developed and to rapidly detect the emergence of pandemic influenza strains. Attaching benefits to the existence of...
Read moreSeasonal influenza virus sharing is already being negatively impacted by national implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in some countries. Several instances have been reported by the WHO Collaborating Centers where countries have delayed, or stopped altogether, the sharing of seasonal influenza virus samples on the grounds of conflict with local access and benefit sharing legislation,...
Read moreIFPMA stands together with the global health community to support Member States in accelerating efforts to achieve UHC. We also welcome the recognition that UHC must include access to affordable and quality-assured medicines, vaccines and health products. Through our work in novel partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private sector entities, the industry is supporting UHC...
Read moreAdebayo Alonge, pharmacist and entrepreneur, talks to IFPMA about why it is important to bring universal health coverage (UHC) to his native Africa, especially rural areas, how to build up local healthcare systems, foster home-grown hi-tech pharma – and fight quack medicines. You have been an avid global health advocate with a specific focus...
Read moreThis blog was originally published on Health Policy Watch on 10 May 2019. “Most of us can probably agree that innovation is meaningless if it does not reach patients. At the same time, a Fair Price must strike a balance between a price that is affordable for health systems and patients, while incentivizing investments into...
Read moreThis article was originally published by Business Day on April 16, 2019. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) says health activists’ call last week for greater transparency on medicine prices could backfire, and drive up drug costs in low and middle-income countries. Activists stepped up their campaign ahead of the Fair Pricing...
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