MAY COULD be considered the month of penitence. It was the month that Big Pharma appear to have discovered its conscience if, indeed, that's what it was. Two initiatives were announced to address the health needs of the world's poorest countries: one, by Pfizer at the World Economic Forum in Davos and another, by a group of other large pharma companies which joined hands with global health organisations at a side-event of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Both are aimed at improving global health equity.
Pfizer, by far the world's top revenue earner thanks to its COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty, launched an extensive "Accord for a Healthier World" project. The US drug giant promises to provide all of its patented, high-quality medicines and vaccines available in the US and the European Union on a not-for-profit basis to people in 45 lower-income countries. The company "seeks to greatly reduce the health inequities that exist between many lower-income countries and the rest of the world".
Comirnaty, described as the fastest-selling drug in pharma history, contributed the bulk of Pfizer's sales of $72 billion last year, and a reason why it has faced constant flak from the public health groups. They say the company has not done enough to help poor countries during the worst of the pandemic (see 'Calling out Albert Bourla and Big Pharma', Down To Earth, 16-31 January 2022) and provide access to lifesaving medicines. Did the worldwide censure, despite the honours and market accolades the company has earned for developing Comirnaty in a short span, prompt Pfizer to come up with this seemingly generous project? Perhaps, it did; beyond the market is a company reputation and that has been undeniably dented.
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2022-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2022-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Trade On Emissions
EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a tariff on imports, is designed to protect European industries in the guise of climate action.
'The project will facilitate physical and cultural decimation of indigenous people'
The Great Nicobar Project has all the hallmarks of a disaster-seismic, ecological, human. Why did it get the go-ahead?
TASTE IT RED
Popularity of Karnataka's red jackfruit shows how biodiversity can be conserved by ensuring that communities benefit from it
MANY MYTHS OF CHIPKO
Misconceptions about the Chipko movement have overshadowed its true objectives.
The politics and economics of mpox
Africa's mpox epidemic stems from delayed responses, neglect of its health risks and the stark vaccine apartheid
Emerging risks
Even as the world gets set to eliminate substances threatening the ozone layer, climate change and space advancement pose new challenges.
JOINING THE CARBON CLUB
India's carbon market will soon be a reality, but will it fulfil its aim of reducing emissions? A report by PARTH KUMAR and MANAS AGRAWAL
Turn a new leaf
Scientists join hands to predict climate future of India's tropical forests
Festering troubles
The Democratic Republic of Congo struggles to contain mpox amid vaccine delays, conflict and fragile healthcare.
India sees unusual monsoon patterns
THE 2024 southwest monsoon has, between June 1 and September 1, led to excess rainfall in western and southern states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while others like Nagaland, Manipur and Punjab recorded a deficit.