Servier joins global effort to tackle chronic diseases

French pharma company Servier has joined a global effort to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Servier is now participating in Access Accelerated, a global partnership of 26 pharma companies designed to help reduce the burden of chronic diseases on healthcare systems and patients in LMICs.

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide with an estimated 79% of NCDs occurring in developing countries. Health systems in LMICs are often not able to address the growing burden of chronic diseases and patients face multiple barriers to prevention, treatment and care.

Access Accelerated works with international partners to create individual projects to improve access to healthcare.

Servier is already positioned to help fight NCDs around the world. In 2016 the company trained a paediatric team in Senegal to help establish the Cuomo paediatric centre in the country.

Through Access Accelerated, Servier hopes to expand its efforts to improve access to healthcare for people around the world.

Vincent Minvielle, head of corporate social responsibility at Servier said: “Servier is dedicated to therapeutic progress to serve patient needs. We have a social responsibility to improve access to health for patients. Servier's participation to Access Accelerated will support this everyday commitment.”

Access Accelerated director James Pfitzer added: “Servier brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in NCD care and we are delighted for the company to join Access Accelerated. Servier's contribution will further bolster our efforts to combat the global NCD crisis and end premature deaths from preventable, treatable diseases.”