On the occasion of the 71st World Health Assembly and the 50th anniversary of IFPMA, on May 22, 2018, IFPMA announced the report “50 years of global progress in health care”.

The 50 Years of Global Health Progress  report  traces global health progress over the past 50 years, and the pioneering collaborative role the biopharmaceutical research industry has played not only in providing prevention and treatment, but also in strengthening health systems health around the world. The report examines some of the major scientific advances in biopharmaceutical research and acknowledges the challenges facing the industry and areas of unfinished business. Progress in partnerships over recent decades demonstrates what can be achieved by bringing governments, civil society and business together. The report also outlines a commitment to continued innovation and partnership with the common goal of better health for all, everywhere.

Progress in the prevention and treatment of diseases has changed the health care system. Vaccines are widely recognized as the easiest way to save lives. HIV/AIDS, once fatal, is now treatable, as are cancers. Patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases are treated with effective methods. We can now cure hepatitis C. We have an experimental vaccine for Ebola. 
“Over the past 50 years, we have witnessed tremendous improvements in health care around the world. Much of this progress is due to improved access to health care and the discovery of life-saving and life-enhancing drugs and vaccines that have extended and improved the quality of life for millions of people ,” said Ian Cheed, Chairman, CEO of Pfizer and President of IFPMA.

The industry joined the earliest global health partnerships, such as 
the Expanded Program on Immunization in the 1970s and 
the polio and smallpox eradication initiatives in the 1980s. These have been followed by partnerships as diverse as 
DNDi , 
MMV , 
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria , 
GAVI Vaccine Alliance , 
MPP , and more recently 
CEPI and 
Access Accelerated .

Partnerships are now commonplace, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are fostering greater cooperation to address new and old challenges, as many people still lack access to basic health services such as family planning, childhood immunization, antiretroviral HIV and AIDS therapy, tuberculosis treatment, clean water and sanitation. Health care systems are trying to respond effectively to the growing rates of non-communicable diseases; too many people still die prematurely from preventable diseases.

“Despite the huge progress, a lot more effort needs to be made to bring the fruits of our innovations to everyone. The science-based biopharmaceutical industry has learned that global health is much more than drugs and vaccines; it requires building and maintaining strong health systems, educating communities to promote prevention, strengthening standards and regulations, and creating innovative financing models. We will continue to grow, learn and learn ways to do more to reach all patients. To do this, we need different partnerships to solve health problems around the world. We need to continue to build bridges between key players in the healthcare system. More dialogue and action are imperative ,” says IFPMA CEO Thomas Kueny.

About IFPMA:

IFPMA represents research pharmaceutical companies and associations worldwide. 2 million employees in the research-based pharmaceutical industry discover, develop and deliver medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of patients around the world. Based in Geneva, IFPMA maintains an official relationship with the United Nations and helps the global health community find solutions that improve global health.

For more information, contact:

Morgane De Pol

Public relations manager

m.depol@ifpma.org

+ 41 22 338 32 00 / +41 79 962 11 95