The Ministry of Health has received eight types of Pfizer medicines and vaccines for infectious and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers through ‘An Accord for a Healthier World’.

The latter is a ground-breaking initiative between the government of Rwanda and Pfizer inc. which aims to provide patented, high-quality medicines and vaccines available in the U.S. or the European Union on a not-for-profit basis to Rwanda among 45 other lower income countries.

The shipment includes 1,500 treatment packs to treat and prevent life threatening infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases and certain cancers.

Commenting on the partnership, the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije described it as a commendable move expected to improve the lives of patients in Rwanda.

“In partnership with Pfizer and ‘An Accord for a Healthier World’, we are proud to provide rapid and affordable access to these Pfizer medicines and vaccines, which have the power to save and improve patient lives all across Rwanda,” he observed.

Minister Ngamije added : “Working together, we are greatly reducing the health inequities that exist between many lower-income countries and the rest of the world.”

As part of the Accord, the Ministry of Health and Pfizer are also providing professional healthcare education and training, exploring partnerships to support Rwandan medical specialists, diagnostic enhancements and the establishment of a telemedicine consultation platform to connect healthcare professionals in Rwanda with experts around the world.

“Everyone, no matter where they live or their income level, should have access to life-saving medicines and vaccines. This delivery is an important milestone on our journey toward closing the health equity gap,” said Patrick van der Loo, Regional President Africa Middle East, Pfizer.

“But this shipment supply is only a first step. We look forward to working in close collaboration with healthcare officials in Rwanda to help get these medicines and vaccines to patients and communities where they are needed most,” he added.

Rwanda is the first of the Accord countries to receive products through the initiative.

Early insights from initial Accord countries, which also include Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda, will be shared across all 45 Accord countries to support sustainable access and improved health systems.

About An Accord for a Healthier World

An Accord for a Healthier World aims to provide all of Pfizer’s patented, high-quality medicines and vaccines available in the U.S. or the European Union on a not-for-profit basis to 1.2 billion people in 45 lower-income countries.

The Accord countries include all 27 low-income countries as well as 18 lower-middle-income countries that have transitioned from low to lower-middle-income classification in the last ten years. Pfizer is working with healthcare officials in Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda to identify early insights and opportunities to ensure all medicines and vaccines can reach those in need.

This will include expertise to support diagnosis, healthcare professional education and training along with supply chain management and other infrastructure enhancements. Learnings from these five countries will be applied to support the roll out for the remaining forty countries.

Pfizer will also collaborate with Accord participants to identify quick and efficient regulatory pathways and procurement processes to reduce the longer amount of time it can take to make new medicines and vaccines available in these countries.

AE News