Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing a significant health transformation. While once predominantly battling infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, these regions are now experiencing a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.[i]
This shift to NCDs, or chronic diseases, is placing new demands on already limited healthcare resources in LMICs, making it essential to strengthen access to high-quality healthcare. As 77% of global chronic disease-related deaths now occur in these regions,i there is an urgent need to support sustainable healthcare solutions.
Affordability of medicines is a central issue in LMICs. National health systems grapple with the overwhelming costs of procuring and distributing essential medicines. Access to life-saving care remains a challenge, with patients and their families needing to bear the bulk of the cost of treatment.
Even when therapies are affordable and technically available, true access to medicines can remain out of reach. Fragile and inconsistent supply chains can disrupt treatment distribution. Limited infrastructure and resources in health systems can hinder proper diagnoses and medical delivery. For innovative medicines, this is further exacerbated by limited awareness, education, and experience with administering these medicines. These multifaceted barriers make accessing quality healthcare a daunting challenge for countless individuals.
The ASPIRE initiative
Recognizing these needs, Bristol Myers Squibb has broadened its commitment to access by introducing its ASPIRE initiative. ASPIRE (Accessibility, Sustainability, Patient-centric, Impact, Responsibility, and Equity) is a 10-year strategy aiming to advance access to innovative treatments for more than 200,000 patients in LMICs by 2033. ASPIRE focuses on creating new access and importation pathways for medicines, increasing the availability of innovative treatments, and partnering with local healthcare providers and facilities.
“The shift from infectious diseases to chronic conditions in LMICs is deepening the imbalance in healthcare access, where worse health outcomes and lack of economic opportunities keep individuals and entire communities from achieving their full potential,” said Adam Lenkowsky, executive vice president, chief commercialization officer, Bristol Myers Squibb. “Our aim as a company and through our ASPIRE commitment is to transform the lives of all patients through science, no matter where they live.”
The shifting health landscape in LMICs is not just a regional issue — it’s a global concern that affects us all. With LMIC populations growing nearly four times faster than wealthier nations and now accounting for 84% of the world’s population,[ii] the rise of chronic conditions can have far-reaching implications for public health. Vital initiatives like ASPIRE aim to help address the root of the problem by strengthening healthcare systems and empowering local communities. By supporting such efforts, we can contribute to a healthier, more equitable world for everyone.
For more information about BMS and ASPIRE, visit bms.com
[i] World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases. Accessed October 3, 2024.
[ii] Data based on several UN and World bank publicly available data bases. Data sets may not be the most recent calendar years but are from equivalent timelines. LMIC data may include MIC data. Very Low-Income Country and United States data excluded.
