Transforming Global Health: BMS's ASPIRE Initiative for Equitable Access to Medicines


07/29/2024


At BMS, our vision to improve patients' lives through scientific advancements includes all individuals. This commitment drives our ongoing efforts to promote health equity and ensure that underserved communities receive the care and medications they need.
 
We have reinforced this dedication with a 10-year plan called ASPIRE, aimed at improving health outcomes for patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). ASPIRE stands for Accessibility, Sustainability, Patient-centric, Impact, Responsibility, and Equity. Through this initiative, we aim to reach over 208,000 patients in LMICs by 2033, reflecting our commitment to responsible and sustainable operations.
 
As part of ASPIRE, BMS is creating strategies to enhance the affordability and availability of its medications in LMICs. Our goal is to ensure that all marketed products are supported by access plans, guaranteeing that patients who need our potentially life-saving medications can obtain them. We have established access pathways for every country where our medicines might be available and have achieved our objective of supporting 100% of our marketed products with access plans.
 
Healthcare access disparities are among the systemic barriers affecting vulnerable populations worldwide, leading to poor health outcomes and limited economic opportunities that hinder individual and community potential.
 
BMS is pioneering access to immuno-oncology therapies in LMICs by partnering with the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition. As a founding supporter of ATOM, BMS has been working since its 2022 launch to make Opdivo™ (nivolumab) available through a safe, scalable, and sustainable model in countries such as Pakistan, Rwanda, and Zambia. By 2026, we aim to develop an integrated pathway to expand access in multiple LMICs.
 
Through investments in solutions that bridge quality-of-care gaps and strengthen health systems, BMS strives to ensure equitable access to innovative medicines for patients globally, regardless of their location.
 
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