Capacity Building
In order to improve access to medicines, it is important to not only provide practical guidance on local capacity building but also education and training.
In developing countries, access to medicines is obstructed by various factors, such as an inadequate public health insurance system and medical infrastructure, shortfalls in the human resources needed for the manufacture and quality management of medicines, the spread of counterfeit medicines and poverty.
JPMA and its members believe that capacity building in developing countries - specifically know-how transfer and educational training - is an important part of improving access to medicines.
1) Know-how transfer
JPMA and its member companies are providing technical assistance in cooperation with stakeholders on the manufacture and quality management of pharmaceuticals in order to improve access to medicine in developing countries.
2) Training
In developing countries, patients are not always able to receive appropriate medical care due to a lack of medical resources and a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. JPMA and its member companies, in cooperation with developing country governments, are working to improve the ability of healthcare professionals involved in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to improve healthcare in these countries.
3) Initiatives to improve access to healthcare
In developing countries, there are still many areas that suffer from insufficient medical access due to lack of social and medical infrastructure. Furthermore, in addition to a lack of healthcare knowledge, there continues to be areas that lack opportunities for people to learn about hygiene and disease prevention as well. JPMA and its member companies contribute to improve medical and health care via improving hygiene and awareness to medical care and access to healthcare for peoples living in local areas.
Initiatives by member companies
| Stepping Up the Fight to End HIV, TB and Malaria Among Women and Children | Partner: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Budget: 1 billion yen Term: 5 years Launch: 2020 After years of remarkable progress, increasing drug resistance and funding shortfalls have slowed the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. The Takeda Initiative is a 15-year partnership with the Global Fund. Launched in 2010, our first phase boosted malaria prevention in Tanzania with the distribution of mosquito nets, accelerated access to TB treatment in Kenya, and expanded HIV services and awareness in Nigeria. Starting in 2020, we are focusing on improving maternal and child health and supporting efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage by integrating quality HIV, TB, and malaria services in antenatal and postnatal care in several priority countries in Africa. |
|---|---|
| Advancing the Evidence Base for Child Survival and Health Around the World: The first Chair at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) | Partner: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Budget: £3 million Term: Perpetual Launch: 2019 Area: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia More than five million children under five die each year, half in the first month of life, in large part due to childhood infections such as pneumonia and diarrhea. While the vast majority of these deaths are preventable, key research gaps remain. The Takeda Chair in Global Child Health—the first chair at LSHTM to be fully endowed by a company—will bridge research, public policy, and healthcare delivery by developing thought leadership in and advance the evidence base for child survival and health through innovative research, including on vaccines, neonatal care, under-nutrition, and infection diagnostics and treatments. |
| Taking Action for a Brighter Future: Takeda's Global CSR Program
24 programs in 85 countries helping improve the accedss to healthcare |
Takeda Global CSR Program supports activities in developing and emerging countries that prevent disease, train health workers, strengthen supply chains, and improve access to quality diagnosis and treatment. We make robust, long-term funding commitments, recognizing that there are no quick fixes and that sustainable impact takes time. We actively partner with world-class organizations and NGOs with proven track records of addressing global health problems in innovative, enduring ways. Each year, we empower all our 50,000 employees to decide which new activities the Global CSR Program supports. |
| Acceptance of fellows and provision of training in developing countries | Eisai Co., Ltd. has accepted Fellows (trainees) from developing countries at their overseas offices through the WHO-TDR (WHO's Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases) Clinical Research Fellowships. Clinical researchers were provided with specialist training and hands-on experience, in order to build capacity in clinical development in the developing world.
Eisai accepted fellows at Eisai Inc (NJ, USA), one from Nigeria in 2010, and the other from Columbia in 2011, providing training for management skills of clinical development and clinical studies. After going back to their countries, they have been playing leading roles in the diagnosis, and treatments of communicable diseases, and also the development of pharmaceuticals in their own countries. Eisai Tokyo Headquarters also accepted a medical school student from Indonesia in 2015, and provided an opportunity to enhance capacity building to support elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the country. |
| Improvement of diagnostic technology for dementia/provision of education on illnesses | Eisai has been working to raise awareness about dementia in India since 2005 by initiating educational and awareness programs. Eisai has created and distributed educational materials aiming to raise awareness of dementia, organized lectures by neurologists and psychiatrists, supported mobile screening camps by volunteer doctors, established memory clinics, and supported training of medical staff. To date, Eisai has conducted screening camps at 4,421 locations and screened over 61,883 people. Furthermore, Eisai supported the submission of the National Dementia Strategy 2010 to the Indian government in 2010. As a result of Eisai's efforts, the number of memory clinics across India reached 69.
Eisai has also expanded its initiatives outside India. For example, Eisai is carrying out a variety of activities in the Philippines, such as support for the establishment of memory clinics throughout the country and provision of training for neurologists, psychiatrists, and geriatricians, with the collaboration of the Dementia Society of the Philippines. |
| Provision of education on mycetoma | Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which is infected through the skin and which, if left untreated, produces enormous masses on the limbs and other parts of the body. There is a lack of basic information including its mode of transmission and epidemiology, and because there are limited treatment methods, it is said to be one of the most neglected tropical diseases. In order to create a drug for mycetoma, Eisai has been working with the Mycetoma Research Centre in Sudan (one of the endemic countries), the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), and the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) to conduct the world’s first double-blinded clinical study of mycetoma with E1224, Eisai’s in-house developed anti-fungal drug fosravuconazole and engaging in talks with Sudanese regulatory authorities about the process for future regulatory submission. At the same time, in order to establish an access plan for the effective delivery of the new treatment to many patients, Eisai is holding dialogues with stakeholders both within and outside Sudan.
In addition, Eisai has been collaborating with the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan), a non-profit organization, to tackle mycetoma in Sudan since 2019. Since the start of collaboration activities, we have provided treatment and surgery to over 190 patients with mycetoma, conducted disease awareness-raising activities for more than 2,800 residents, and promoted a holistic and sustainable approach that includes capacity-building for local organizations. In fiscal 2022, this project was selected for “Projects for Growth of Medical Technologies” by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. In the same year, in cooperation with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, we conducted two online training sessions for cooperative organizations and healthcare professionals involved in mycetoma countermeasures in Sudan and held active discussions with the goal of eliminating NTDs. |
| Technical cooperation for manufacturing of MR vaccine (mixed vaccine for measles and rubella) | Daiichi Sankyo Biotech, a subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo and former Kitasato Daiichi Sankyo Vaccine, currently provides technical support for the domestic manufacture of the first mixed vaccine for measles and rubella in Vietnam. |
| Financial assistance for Eradication of Malaria | Sumitomo Pharma supports the initiatives for eradication of malaria in a few countries in Asia and Africa. The company has cooperated with NPO, local governments and communities to provide insecticide-treated mosquito net, rapid diagnostic test kits for malaria, and educational activities in India, Zambia, Tanzania, and Indonesia, as well as advocacy initiatives in Japan. |
| Financial assistance for Access to Healthcare | Sumitomo Pharma supports initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare in LMICs. We collaborate with non-profit organizations, local governments, and community organizations to provide assistance. In Bangladesh, we are involved in a nurse training project, and in Haiti, we support the tuberculosis screening project along with a physician training project. |
| Financial assistance for Access to Healthcare | A key pillar of Astellas’ Access to Health strategy focuses on supporting and collaborating with external partners to remove barriers to healthcare and strengthen health systems.
■Malaysia: Since 2022, Astellas’ funding supports Malaysian National Cancer Society and the Asian Cancer Forum through BEAUTY & Health program for multiple screenable cancer prevention and early detection in a multinational nation, Malaysia. Comprehensive initiatives including the development of educational materials and cancer risk management portals, and awareness-raising activities based at local barber shops and beauty salons. ■Peru: Since 2022, Astellas’ funding supports City Cancer Challenge Foundation to strengthen and improve the health care system in Arequipa, a city where cancer is a growing public health issue. Promoting multidisciplinary collaboration, introducing digital health ecosystems, and developing the skills of cancer experts to improve access to quality cancer care. ■Mexico; Since 2023, Astellas’ funding supports the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Mexico and its community-based cancer prevention and early detection program. In partnership with AMPATH, Astellas will target support for the three highest burden cancers (breast, cervical and prostate) through health literacy programs and early detection and screenings. ■Dominican Republic; Since 2023, Astellas’ funding supports the Prostate Health Awareness and Screening Campaign (PHASC) through MAP International. These campaigns include a community education campaign in high-traffic areas and the use of mobile screening sites in rural areas, with the goal of continuing care after initial prevention and screening services. |
| Support Health Improvement for Mothers and Children | Sumitomo Pharma supports the initiative with NPO People's Hope Japan in rural areas of Cambodia, where many children under two years old suffer from malnutrition, affecting their development. Through the project, Community Care volunteers for Mothers and New-borns (CCMN) are trained to conduct home visits for pregnant women to promote medical examinations and newborn vaccinations. In addition, the CCMN are being trained to educate parents and local communities on proper child nutrition and oral care. |
| Support Health Improvement for Mothers and Children | SHIONOGI is committed to improving the health of pregnant and lactating women, and children under 5 years of age in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the mortality rate is extremely high. SHIONOGI has set two primary goals: "Improving maternal health of pregnant and lactating women and child health of children under 5 years of age" and "Establishment of sustainable community health systems". Since 2015, SHIONOGI has been actively engaged in the "Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project". In the third term of this project, launched in 2023, SHIONOGI is collaborating with the international NGO World Vision Japan in the Republic of Kenya and with Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) in the Republic of Ghana to improve the health of mothers and children. Their focus is on addressing major challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as improving access to healthcare and hygiene, and reducing child mortality caused by diarrhea. |
| Program on measures against AMR to strengthen appropriate use of antibacterial drugs in Vietnam | Sumitomo Pharma are implementing a program on measures against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to strengthen appropriate use of antibacterial drugs including antibiotic susceptibility surveillance study with the cooperation of the local governments and National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) from 2019 targeting major medical facilities in Vietnam, where the rates of AMR are among the highest in south east Asia. |
| Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Camp Project in Nepal | In January 2021, Daiichi Sankyo launched the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Camp Project in Nepal in cooperation with the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) Multisectoral and Integrated Development Services. In this project, we will expand screening services and improve resident knowledge about breast and cervical cancers through screening camps and public awareness activities in Gokarneshwar in the Kathmandu district. Through this project, we hope to increase the number of people receiving cancer screenings and the rate of early detection of cancer. |
| Public Awareness Activities and Strengthening of Healthcare Infrastructure for SRHR and Breast and Cervical Cancers in Zimbabwe | In April 2021, Daiichi Sankyo launched an initiative to raise awareness and strengthen healthcare services related to sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and breast and cervical cancers in Zimbabwe in collaboration with Plan International, an international NGO. With the aim of improving the knowledge of breast and cervical cancers and SRHR and creating an environment where women can easily access healthcare services, this project will (1) Build the capacity of healthcare professionals on breast and cervical cancers and SRHR, (2) Raise awareness of SRHR, gender equality, and cervical and breast cancers among local residents, and (3) Advocate to local governments for improving healthcare services related to these cancer screenings and SRHR . |
Initiatives by JPMA
| Project on "Promotion of Proper Use of Medicines with Medication Guiding Tools through Clinical Pharmacists Intervention in Vietnam" | Access group of the International Affairs Committee has been conducting activities to improve access to medicines in low- and middle- income countries. This initiative was adopted in 2019, 2020 and 2021 as one of Projects for the Growth of Medical Technologies, carried out by the National Center for Global Health and Medicine*, and we have worked to promote the proper use of medicines through clinical pharmacists in Vietnam. Please refer to here for information on activities in fiscal year 2019, 2020 and 2021 (only Japanese is available). *Promote the creation of innovative programs | Bureau of International Health Cooperation (ncgm.go.jp) |
|---|