Independent Ranking Shows More Transparency, More Programs for Low-income Countries. European pharmaceutical companies outcompete their U.S. counterparts in making medicines available to people in developing countries, but their lead is shrinking, according to the second Access to Medicine Index, released today.Compared to 2008, when the first Index was published, pharma companies have given more insight into their policies and actions to increase people’s access to medicines in developing countries, researchers say in a report underpinning the ranking. They identify more industry initiatives than two years ago, but also see room for improvement. “The Access to Medicine Index independently assesses how individual pharmaceutical companies perform in promoting universal access to essential medicines, and is thus an important tool in improving performance,” said Dr Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO). More…

Source: Access to Medicine Index