Biopharmaceutical Innovators Launch “Health Forward” to Highlight Innovation and Health Solutions

The innovative biopharmaceutical sector in the Middle East and North Africa is working with stakeholders throughout the region to make new medicines and better health care available to patients. Governments are making practical improvements and partnering with the private sector to drive innovation and to improve care.

The Health Forward initiative will share ideas and solutions that can advance innovation in the Middle East and North Africa and draw attention to unmet medical needs in the region. The collaboration will highlight successful public-private partnerships and case studies and address policies that could undermine innovation and private sector investment.

Data shows that life expectancy in MENA has increased by nearly 58% in recent decades – from only 47 years in 1960 to nearly 71 years in 2016. It is estimated that new treatments accounted for as much as 40% of the increase in life expectancies from 1986-2001, with some estimates as high as 73% in recent years.

But non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer threaten patient health and strain local budgets. To continue to see improved health outcomes and combat rising rates of NCDs, we look forward to continuing to work with countries across the region to invest in health and promote policies that advance innovation and ensure patient access to life saving treatments and cures.