There is a healthcare crisis in many parts of the developing world

Millions of people do not have access to adequate food and clean water. Their governments do not have the resources to fund the clinics and staff needed to deliver healthcare. The AIDS pandemic has made these problems worse, creating a generation of orphans and depriving communities of their greatest asset – fit and healthy people.

Tackling this crisis is a complex challenge. Poverty is the fundamental cause and a huge barrier to progress. Significant political will and extra funding are needed from new national and international sources to aid development and build healthcare infrastructure.

We believe that it is the responsibility of governments and intergovernmental agencies, supplemented by the work of many NGOs, to work in partnership to deliver the healthcare needed in these countries. However, the pharmaceutical industry can play a significant role in supporting their work.

We make an important contribution through:

• Investing in research and development that targets diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries;
• Providing antiretrovirals (ARVs), anti-malarials and vaccines at specially reduced prices;
• Developing partnerships and granting voluntary licences to local manufacturers

We also support programmes to improve health and education through our community investment programme. Partnerships focus on four major diseases — lymphatic filariasis, malaria, HIV/AIDS and diarrhoeal disease. Support is given through donations of cash and medicines, as well as employee involvement.