The Global Summit of Women 2009
Santiago, Chile
May 14-16
Presentation on “Business Ethics:
Moving Beyond the Bottom Line”
By Ponni Subbiah, Vice President, Global Access, Emerging Markets,
Pfizer, Inc. (USA)
Pfizer’s Global Access strategy is
to improve access to quality medicines and healthcare for the working poor
through new, non-traditional business models that are commercially viable,
socially responsible, and sustainable.
Current pharmaceutical business models, which work by engaging
physicians, payers, and customers, are not designed to serve the working poor
because the healthcare delivery systems that are available to the poor operate
differently. In some instances,
availability of medicines for the poor is dependent on aid agencies or local
government programs. However, for the
vast majority of the working poor, healthcare spending is out-of-pocket and
rarely involves seeing a trained physician.
Often their healthcare needs are not met due to several barriers such as
unreliable medicine supply, unfair health financing, poor quality medicines,
inappropriate medicine use and unaffordable prices.
Pfizer has an extensive
philanthropy program, but donations are limited in scope and don’t reach everyone
with a need. Therefore, after gaining
input from external experts, the Pfizer Global Access team was formed in late
2008. The team is currently evaluating
different approaches to increase access through a partnership driven approach
with emphasis on innovation, commercial viability, and social impact. We are working on multiple tracks to achieve
our goals—both in the short- and long-term.
A key priority is to learn and understand the needs of the working poor
firsthand so that solutions that are developed are relevant and sustainable. An
example of this approach is our partnership with the Grameen Bank - the
pioneering micro-financing organization in