How the Index is measured

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Index structure

Click on the pie-chart to learn more about how the Access to Medicine Index is calculated. Each of the eight general criteria consists of several indicators.

Management

Acces to Medicines Management (20%)

Governance (4%)

A governance system with board level accountability for an access to medicines strategy.

Policy and Disclosure (4%)

Contents and details of a public global policy outlining an access to medicines rationale.

Systems and Reporting (5%)

A management system with quantitative targets for implementation and monitoring.

Stakeholder Input (5%)

A mechanism for stakeholder engagement in access to medicines management.

Ethics (2%)

Ethical business practices and marketing policies that conform to appropriate standards.

Influence

Public policy influence & Lobbying (10%)

Position (0.5%)

Company has a position on public policy advocacy and transparency.

Publicity (2%)

Company discloses public policy positions related to the access to medicines debate.

Advocacy (2%)

The company actively advocates reforms toward better access to medicines and public health.

Transparency (4%)

The company discloses the individuals and (policy) organizations it supports.

Process (1.5%)

The board approves the company’s policy advocacy, transparency and reporting.

R&D

Research & Development into neglected diseases (20%)

Policy (1%)

A policy on R&D investments with respect to neglected diseases.

Investment (6%)

Evidence of in-house investment in R&D into treatments for neglected diseases.

Partnership (8%)

Evidence of partnership with other developing country health experts or R&D partners.

Focus (5%)

Evidence of research to make existing medicines better suited for use in all patient groups.

Patenting

Patents & Licensing (10%)

Voluntary licenses (6%)

Terms of non-exclusive voluntary license agreements to developing countries.

TRIPS (4%)

Respect the right of developing countries to use the provisions in the TRIPS agreement.

Capacity

Drug manufacturing, Distribution and Capability advancement (15%)

Quality (3%)

Demonstrable efforts to manufacture drugs to the highest quality standards.

Technology transfer (5.5%)

Entering into agreements with local companies in developing countries.

Monitoring (2%)

Evidence of support for monitoring of drugs against neglected diseases.

Fraud prevention (3%)

Mechanisms to address potential product diversion and counterfeiting.

Employee plan (1.5%)

Demonstrable efforts to provide access to medicines to employees and relatives.

Pricing

Equitable pricing (15%)

Registration (3%)

Demonstrable efforts to register treatments for neglected diseases.

Mechanisms (7.5%)

Pricing mechanism policies and their scope, pricing levels, pricing reviews.

Discounts (1.5%)

Discount schemes minimize administrative burden on health systems.

Safety net (3%)

Policies for poorest patients in countries with no public healthcare provision.

Drug donations

Donations of drugs (6%)

Compliance (3.5%)

Policies fully conform to the WHO’s Guidelines for Drug Donations.

Transparency (2.5%)

Disclosure of donation volumes and number of treatments approved for patient use.

Philantropy

Other philantropic activities (4%)

Other (4%)

Philanthropic programs to improve access to medicines not covered by the other criteria.

The Access to Medicine Index is designed to provide standardized information on pharmaceutical companies with regard to their efforts to improve global access to medicines.

The Index is construed from a framework of 28 ‘indicators’ which are grouped into 8 main ‘criteria’. All have carefully fine-tuned weightings. Move your mouse over the pie chart and click on individual sectors to learn more about how the first Access to Medicine Index, due in the summer of 2008, will be calculated.

See a full description of the Index methodology >

Methodology review

Ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders ensures that the Access to Medicine Index will continue to reflect broad expertise and expectations in the future. Each year, stakeholders will be invited to provide insights and comments. The review will be carried out under the auspices of an Index Executive Committee.

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Researching the Index

The Access to Medicine Index was created and adjusted with the help of Innovest Strategic Value Advisors after consultation with many stakeholders, including representatives from governments, the pharmaceutical industry, the investor community, and non-governmental organizations.

Full Index outcomes

Click through layers of
data beneath the surface
of the Access to
Medicine Index.