Pfizer to supply all its medicines to low-income countries for no profit

Pfizer has launched today a new initiative called ‘An Accord for a Healthier World’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The project aims to provide all of Pfizer’s patented medicines and vaccines that are currently available in the US or the European Union to 45 lower-income countries on a not-for-profit basis. 

The pharma giant has called upon global health leaders and organizations to join the Accord program, with the aim of closing the world’s health equity gap.

So far Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda are the first five countries to sign up. Pfizer will work with local healthcare officials to ensure its medicines and vaccines reach those in need.

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, commented: "Rapid and affordable access to the most advanced medicines and vaccines is the cornerstone of global health equity.

“Pfizer’s commitment under the Accord program sets a new standard in this regard. Combined with additional investments in strengthening Africa’s public health systems and pharmaceutical regulators, the Accord is an important step toward sustainable health security for countries at every income level.”

The five countries will work with Pfizer on diagnosis, training for healthcare professionals and supply chain management. Pfizer will apply the lessons learned from them to support the rollout for the remaining 40 countries.

Pfizer will also collaborate with countries that are part of the Accord program to identify quick regulatory pathways and procurement processes, with the aim of reducing the time it takes to make new medications and vaccines available.

As Pfizer launches new products, these will also be included in the Accord portfolio on a not-for-profit basis. 

Speaking at the conference, Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, said: “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." 

Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was also in Davos today. He said: “Everyone, no matter where they live, should have the same access to innovative, life-saving drugs and vaccines.

“The Accord for a Healthier World could help millions more people in low-income countries get the tools they need to live a healthy life. Pfizer is setting an example for other companies to follow.”

Pfizer’s Accord initiative in numbers

• 23 existing medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases, cancers and rare and inflammatory diseases to be made available
• 27 low-income countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan and North Korea will benefit from the initiative
• 18 lower-middle-income countries that have transitioned from low- income classification in the last 10 years will also benefit, including Haiti and Tajikistan
• US$1,045 is the gross national income (GNI) per capita of a low-income country
• $4,095 to $1,046 is the GNI of a lower-middle-income nation
• 1 million people die from non-communicable and infectious diseases in low and lower-middle-income countries each year
• Half a million people living in low-income countries are affected by chronic diseases that significantly impact their quality of life
• US$26 bn is the revenue Pfizer made in the first quarter of 2022

Quick links

• Morocco’s role in the medicinal supply chain for Africa and beyond
• How MSD prevented one million doses of medicinal products from being discarded
• Animated map reveals potential drug shortages

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