Today, 4.5 billion people do not have access to essential health services, which span promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Health equity and timely access to innovation, especially for vulnerable populations, is a priority to all actors in the health sector, from companies that innovate to governments that seek to bring health services to their populations. Notwithstanding these shared objectives, much more progress is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

UHC Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of health for all as a pillar of societal prosperity and advancement. The COVID-19 pandemic may already feel quite distant in our collective memory, but it remains a stark reminder of how a threat to our health can be crippling to all aspects of our lives. To prevent, slow, and stop diseases, we need, now more than ever, multisectoral collaboration, political commitment, and prioritization of health as an investment, not a cost.

The role of governments

As of last year, only 11% of countries worldwide adopted a concrete strategy to achieve UHC and only 17 out of 135 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were expected to meet or exceed the projected necessary government spending to meet UHC goals by 2026. This year’s UHC Day underscores the importance of government commitments to close the health gap and prioritize health spending as a share of total government expenditure, despite competing demands on strained national budgets.

In addition to funding, governments must aim to tackle the multifaceted factors that may impede access to medicines. In LMICs, the barriers to achieving equitable patient access to quality and affordable medicines are particularly complex. They include regulatory processes, procurement systems, funding and financing, distribution and supply chain, and health service delivery. Different stakeholders can and must come together and contribute their expertise to overcoming these barriers and working toward solutions to unlock access for patients.

Private sector commitment

IFPMA is a member of the UHC2030 Private Sector Constituency (PSC), which last year renewed its commitments to incorporate UHC principles into its business by:

• Delivering innovations that respond to the needs of all people, including under-served populations
• Strengthening the health workforce
• Contributing to efforts to raise the finance available for UHC
• Championing and engaging in multi-stakeholder policy dialogues that advance UHC.

To prevent, slow, and stop diseases, we need, now more than ever, multisectoral collaboration, political commitment, and prioritization of health as an investment, not a cost.

The innovative pharmaceutical industry has an undeniably important role to play in achieving UHC, and this industry contribution is something members of IFPMA come together to tackle year-round. Our vision is that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere, and that innovation only comes to fruition if it reaches people and patients.

In the last 25 years, medicines and vaccines have revolutionized the treatment of numerous diseases and conditions such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and hepatitis C, improving health outcomes worldwide. I am proud to work for Gilead Sciences, where we aim to be a bridge to a healthier world. We have a long history of concrete actions to support access to medicines, from technology transfer and licensing agreements on our HIV and hepatitis medicines, to supporting multi-company initiatives such as the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition.

These are only a few examples of how the innovative pharmaceutical industry is partnering to ensure innovation and access contribute to health for all, everywhere. We work with government and across stakeholders to be part of the solution, building health system readiness and resilience, investing more and better in health, and collaborating with public and private sectors to accelerate progress. Our joint action can move the needle on UHC.

Author

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  Mike Boyd IFPMA Council Chair and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, Gilead Sciences