Analyzing Access: Novartis is the New Leader in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index

The 2024 Access to Medicine Index is live. “Half of the global population still struggles to reach basic healthcare services, deepening the divide between those with access and those without,” said Access to Medicine Foundation CEO Jayasree K. Iyer. “[...] we’re on a mission to close that gap. Our work is focused on guiding pharmaceutical companies to make their products affordable and available in low- and middle-income countries.”

Novartis has not only entered the top three for the first time, but has outperformed all other big pharma players this year, knocking long-term leader GSK off the top spot – but only narrowly. Novartis accumulated a score of 3.78, just .06 points ahead of GSK, yet both players scored fewer points compared to their 2022 performances, prompting the Foundation’s analysts to warn of “an overall drop in momentum.”

Research Program Manager for the 2024 Index Camille Romero said, “While individual pharmaceutical companies have advanced their efforts to expand access, overall industry progress remains uneven in key areas. Decisive action is now needed, with the 2024 Index highlighting clear steps companies can take to accelerate broad, impactful change.”

Nevertheless, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan was certainly optimistic: “We have more to do as an industry to close the access gap, but today's recognition is made possible by our 70,000+ associates and partners who are committed to reimagining medicine so we can improve and extend patients' lives around the world.”

Meanwhile, GSK CEO Emma Walmsley shared similar sentiments: “We are pleased to have ranked second in the latest global Access to Medicine Index. This means we have placed first or second in the Index since its inception in 2008, and is recognition of the action we have taken, and continue to take, to ensure and accelerate access to our medicines and vaccines for people in lower income countries.”

Walmsley suggests that partnerships are the key to progress, but it would be interesting to see how access to lifesaving treatments can be improved in other ways, and in the future.