Making Access Happen – the new Sandoz magazine

Steffen Kurzawa, Global Head Communications Sandoz

Over the past century, medical and scientific breakthroughs have been spectacular. They brought better health and longer lives to people around the world. However, the global burden of disease still causes millions of deaths every year, although many conditions are preventable and treatable. Ensuring universal access to high-quality medicines and medical care arguably remains one of mankind’s biggest challenges.

Yet this is not a challenge that one company, government or organization alone can solve. It is a multifaceted challenge and improving the global access situation will require a major effort across sectors. Searching for solutions begins with information, thought, and with debate among people and organizations who can bring about change. With the intention to spark such debate, we are pleased to publish our new magazine, Making Access Happen. The magazine will feature a variety of stories about the challenges of ensuring access to medicine in developed and developing countries, and about people and organizations addressing those challenges and working on solutions.

In this first issue, in a special report based on a study that Sandoz commissioned, we outline major global health challenges that, we believe, should feature high on the global health agenda. Access-related challenges are not specific to low-income countries. High-income nations also suffer access issues, as our 12-nation survey revealed. It provides insights into what patients and healthcare professionals think should be improved in the healthcare systems in their countries.

Wherever they are, individuals can bring about great change, one patient at a time. In our cover story, you can read about a pediatric oncologist in the Philippines who works tirelessly to bring hope for children with cancer — and their families. Her efforts are supported by the nonprofit organization World Child Cancer, a charity with which Sandoz has teamed up.

We’re very proud of Sandoz Healthcare Access Challenge (HACk), a competition that we held for the first time this year. Sandoz HACk asked for ideas from you people to tackle local healthcare problems. In this issue, you can take a look behind the scenes, read about the winners, and learn how they plan to increase access to medicine and healthcare in their countries and their communities through mobile technology.

Ensuring access to medicine includes transporting products to patients, and effective treatment requires getting medicines to people who need them, wherever they are.  That is why we have taken this opportunity to follow the logistics of medicines as they travel from producer to patient, and discover why the supply chain for pharmaceuticals is different from many other industries.

Among mankind’s essential medicines are life-saving antibiotics, the cornerstone of healthcare today. However, many common antibiotics can become ineffective for treating bacterial infections. We take a scientific look at the rise of antimicrobial resistance, and at ways to slow or stop the spread of resistance.

In future editions of the magazine, we will offer more stories about the challenges and successes of ensuring access to medicine and healthcare for the people who need it most.

The stories on our website, and features in our magazine are designed to spark debate. You can contribute to this debate on social media with the hashtag #MakingAccessHappen.  So if there is a story you think we should tell, or if you’d like to contribute an article or blog post, please get in touch. You can also send us an email to [email protected].

We hope you enjoy reading our magazine Making Access Happen. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Download the magazine