Working with Non-Governmental Agencies: Our African Experience Dr Jack Watters Vice President External Medical Affairs, International Pfizer (EMAI)

The Fiction…

The Reality…

Pfizer in Africa Traditional role of a pharmaceutical company in developing and marketing medicines: –Offices in over 20 African countries Pfizer’s broad commitment to improving health: much more than just medicines: Pfizer has many ongoing African health initiatives such as: –Diflucan Partnership –Mobilize Against Malaria –Steve Biko Centre –International Trachoma Initiative –Infectious Disease Institute –Scholarships, training

Ensures donation of authentic Diflucan Managed Access Channels: Customs, Suitability of Clinics Diflucan Partnership Program The Reality The Reality…

Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) NGO Founded 2004, Kampala, Independent Board of Directors Founding Partnership –Pfizer –Academic Alliance Foundation –Makerere University –Infectious Diseases Society of America Treats over 9000 HIV patients per year at internal clinic; at local Kampala clinics Trained over 2500 healthcare workers from 26 African countries ~30 ongoing research projects

IDI Partnership: Key Success Factors Clear initial vision, goal: “to build capacity in Africa for the delivery of sustainable, high quality care and prevention of HIV/AIDS and related diseases through training and research” Strong institutional support at highest levels –Pfizer CEO –Makerere University Dean of Medical Faculty –President of IDSA Political Will in Uganda Strong scientific and academic basis Realistic and Sustained external funding stewardship –At initiation –During transition of self-sufficiency

EMAI – Priority Issues and Partners Academia Partners Governments NGOs MDs Nurses MLOs Health Care Organizations Access Issues Capacity Ethics Health Care

 POLITICAL WILLPartnerships

Working With African Science If you want scientific or medical advice, talk to scientists or doctors! Keep discussion at professional level –Initial basis for strong relationship –Supersedes cultural or political differences Peer-to-Peer relationship –Not “north-south” –Do not focus of resource differences, look for resource synergies Broaden the relationship beyond financial support: add intellectual capital to the discussion Look for the broader social context of a medical issue and link advice to action Separate the discussion from needs of the [Pfizer] business