Access to Healthcare

Healthcare resources and needs vary widely from country to country and cannot be addressed with a single approach or by a single actor. Whilst governments are primarily responsible for establishing healthcare systems, the healthcare industry has an important role to play in tackling the global challenge of improving health.  

Availability

Our primary contribution is through the research, development and commercialisation of innovative new therapies and diagnostic tests to diagnose and help treat serious or life-threatening diseases in areas of unmet medical need.  We work closely with governments and payers to demonstrate the value of our products and services to patients, society and healthcare systems in order to gain approval and appropriate reimbursement.

Affordability

We are aware that price can be a key barrier, so we offer a range of commercial arrangements and patient assistance programmes in a number of countries, adapted to local market needs.

Recognising that healthcare needs in emerging countries differ from those in developed countries, as does the ability of patients to pay, we are exploring additional options to help affordabilty. Our aim is to achieve reimbursement and remove, or reduce, barriers in markets where formal reimbursement is either not in place or suboptimal.  These differential pricing models involve working with local governments to identify tailored solutions, such as second brands and/or local company manufacturing, reflecting the needs of the different regions and aimed at maximising the benefits to the local area.

Accessibility

In least developed countries, lack of access is one of many systemic causes of healthcare inequality, combined with lack of disease awareness, low levels of diagnosis, limited healthcare infrastructure and capacity, and budget constraints. To help increase access and strengthen infrastructure, we work together with governments, healthcare providers, patient groups, multi-lateral and non-governmental organisations to find effective and sustainable ways to make a long-term difference.

Whilst medicines and diagnostics are the cornerstone of our business, we believe they are just one part of the solution to improving healthcare and patients’ lives. We provide a number of value-added services aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and delivering improved health outcomes.  These range from increasing disease awareness through educational tools, websites and medical events, strengthening training and education of healthcare providers, through to building healthcare infrastructure such as testing laboratories and clinics.  

Awareness

Health awareness and education is as important to a patient’s well-being as proper medical diagnosis and treatment. We have a number of initiatives around building public awareness through campaigns and specialised events and advancing early detection and monitoring of diseases such as breast, lung and colon cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, osteoporosis and diabetes.

We also run local programmes aimed at demonstrating the need for, and assisting patients with, adhering to treatment regimens through patient support programmes, reminder text messages, treatment diaries and 24-hour call lines, amongst other activities.