Policy Division

Access To Medicines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, in Africa and SE Asia, prompt diagnosis and treatment with appropriate medicines could save about 4 million lives a year. One third of the world's population lacks access to essential drugs - rising to over 50% in the poorest countries in Africa and Asia. Drugs typically account for between 60 and 90% of spending on health in poor households. The WHO has identified four key factors affecting access: affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of drugs. The research and development (R&D) of new products is also critical to ensure access to medicines, particularly over the longer term.

Significant international attention is focused on this complex agenda, with access to anti-retroviral treatment for HIV and AIDS a particularly urgent issue. The UK Government’s response has been comprehensive. In July 2001, the Prime Minister established a high-level Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World, chaired by Clare Short. The group reported in November 2002, with recommendations focusing on affordable pricing and research and development into new medicines. In June 2004, the Government released Increasing access to essential medicines in the developing world: UK Government policy and plans(207 kb) which outlines progress since the Working Group report and sets out the Government’s priorities for action over the coming years.

This page is designed as a hub of information on DFID policy and knowledge on medicines issues and enables you to:

• Find the answers to frequently asked questions
• Access key Government policy documents
• Access to recent studies financed by DFID
• Access to other key websites

Frequently asked questions and answers

• Access to medicines - an introduction
• TRIPS and Public Health
• Drug procurement
• Malaria
• HIV and AIDS

Key UK Government policy documents:

• The UK Government Response to the Report of the Commission on Intellectual Rights, Innovation and Public Health (September 2007)(188 kb)
• Report of the UK Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World (November 2002)(240 kb)
• Context paper for the UK Working Group report (January 2003)(348 kb)
• Increasing access to essential medicines in the developing world: UK Government policy and plans (June 2004)(208 kb)
• Increasing people's access to essential medicines in developing countries(236 kb)

DFID Factsheets:

• TB
• Malaria,
• HIV & Aids
• Access to Medicines(187 kb)

Recent studies:

• Impact of Public-Private partnerships addressing access to pharmaceuticals in low & middle income countries Botswana(700 kb), Sri Lanka(688 kb), Uganda(2.08 mb), Zambia(716 kb) and Synthesis Report(692 kb)
• Access to medicines in under-served markets: what are the implications of changes in intellectual property rights, trade and drug registration policy? Overview paper(180 kb), individual studies on: using trips flexibilities(272 kb) including Kenya(210 kb) and Malawi(216 kb) case studies; drug registration and regulation(181 kb); domestic production(383 kb) and the pharmaceutical industries in India and China(252 kb), and technology transfer(181 kb) .
• A Briefing Paper for DFID: Update on China and India and Access to Medicines(208 kb)

Links to other websites:

• WHO Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
• MSF - Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
• Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships in Health (IPPPH)
• PharmaFutures
• Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)
• Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
• Health Action International (HAI) Europe
• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA)

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