Publications
Partners
- Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda will be the first African countries to benefit from Pfizer's not-for-profit drug rollout.
- It is a victory for the African Union's years' old call for critical medicine patent waivers.
- Pfizer says solutions from lessons learnt from the Covid-19 logistical challenges will be implemented.
Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda will be the first African countries to benefit from US-based drug manufacturer Pfizer's "An Accord for a Healthier World" initiative to reduce the health inequities that exist in many lower-income countries.
The announcement came from the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Albert Bourla, during a World Financial Discussion board segment at the World Economic Forum, which is currently underway in Davos, Switzerland.
In a statement, the company said the initiative "aims to provide all of Pfizer's patented, high-quality medicines and vaccines available in the US or the European Union on a not-for-profit basis to 1.2 billion people in 45 lower-income countries".
The move would cover 27 low-income countries as well as 18 lower-middle-income ones that have transitioned from low- to lower-middle-income classification in the last 10 years, Pfizer added.
Five African countries will lead the initiative from which lessons for a complete rollout would be drawn.
"Pfizer will work with healthcare officials in Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda to identify early insights and opportunities to ensure all medicines and vaccines can reach those in need."
Bourla said:
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said: "Uganda is proud to join the accord, and we are committed to working with Pfizer and all accord partners to find new ways to address access challenges."
Under the accord, Pfizer will provide 23 medicines and vaccines that treat infectious diseases, certain cancers, and rare and inflammatory diseases.
ALSO READ | Aspen’s Covid-19 flop bodes ill for Africa vaccine making drive
In an interview with international media, Bourla said people were dying of curable and avoidable ailments in Africa because they lacked access to medicines and Pfizer was seeking to change that.
He added:
At the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit held in February this year, a resolution was passed to elevate the Africa Center for Disease Control's status to an autonomous health agency of the AU.
Thereafter, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in March as the AU and US signed a memorandum of cooperation on health issues.
The cooperation set in motion the AU's call for patent waivers on medicines to fight artificial scarcity.
Drawing lessons from the slow Covid-19 vaccine uptake in Africa coupled with delivery challenges, Bourla said more beyond just supply had to be done.
"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," he added.
Pfizer said it would sell the drugs likely at the price of manufacturing.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
