When we talk about patient access in Europe or the US, the focus is usually on reimbursement, HTAs, or price negotiations. But in many emerging markets, access looks entirely different. It’s not about policy debates — it’s about getting medicines to patients in the first place.
In parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, access depends on whether the cold chain works, whether clinics have stock, or whether patients can afford transport to a pharmacy. These realities shape solutions that are often more creative and pragmatic than those seen in wealthy nations.
Take mobile health. Long before Europe embraced telemedicine, African programmes were using SMS to remind patients to take medicines or to coordinate follow-up in remote areas. Tiered pricing, which can be politically sensitive in developed markets, is used routinely to balance affordability with sustainability.
Partnerships also work differently. Companies collaborate with NGOs, microfinance groups, and mobile operators. They don’t wait for perfect systems — they adapt to the ones that exist.
The real lesson for developed markets is humility. Innovation doesn’t always trickle down from rich to poor; sometimes it rises the other way. Many of the most efficient, people-centred access models are born from necessity in resource-limited settings.
Imagine if we applied the same creativity to the NHS or European systems. Local partnerships, mobile-based follow-ups, or decentralised distribution could all make access faster and fairer.
Emerging markets remind us that access is not a bureaucratic process. It’s a human mission. And sometimes, the best innovation starts where the resources are fewest, but the need is greatest.
Key Takeaways
- Innovation in access often begins where systems are stretched, not where they’re perfect.
- Emerging markets offer practical, low-cost models that developed systems can learn from.
- Partnerships beyond healthcare — such as with telecoms or NGOs — can unlock scale.
- Affordability and distribution matter as much as policy.
- True access innovation requires humility: learning from those who do more with less.
