Pfizer's Struggle to Expand Affordable Medicine Access to Poor Nations

Pfizer launched 'An Accord for a Healthier World' to provide affordable medicines to 45 low-income countries. Despite the initiative’s potential, progress is slow, with only ten countries signed up. Bureaucratic hurdles and competing national issues have hampered efforts. Rwanda has notably expanded its product procurement.

Pfizer launched 'An Accord for a Healthier World' to provide affordable access to its medicines for 45 low-income countries. However, since its 2022 inception, less than a quarter of the intended nations have joined due to bureaucratic challenges and other national issues.

The initiative, which was expanded in 2023 to include more products, aims to distribute Pfizer's entire portfolio, such as top-sellers Eliquis and Ibrance. Critics had argued Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine rollout left poorer nations waiting longer than wealthier ones.

CEO Albert Bourla stated the slow progress is partly due to the complex local bureaucracies. Rwanda, which quickly signed on, expanded its Pfizer product range but the programme's broader impact remains limited. Pfizer is negotiating with more countries, aiming for greater participation and potential to reach one million patients this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)