Jayasree Iyer: On World AIDS Day, I pay tribute to all those who tirelessly work to expand access and boldly speak out against inaction

Quoting Jayasree Iyer, CEO of Access to Medicine Foundation, on LinkedIn:

“In the 2000s it was advocates that brought awareness to communities, reduced stigma and called for action which led to public and private sectors, including pharma companies, to work together on access. Patients must not only be heard in defining their needs and challenges but actively involved in the redesign of products and services tailored to those needs. Their advocacy is integral for improving awareness, disseminating knowledge about available options for families and holding both inaction and action accountable.

This week, we Access to Medicine Foundation had the honour of engaging with patient advocates to discuss our work in increasing access to medicines, and I was reminded that the lessons learned in the context of HIV/AIDS hold true for similar challenges in other disease areas such as cancer and diabetes. From managing hypoxia in HIV patients to understanding the elevated risk of certain cancers associated with HIV, acknowledging the diverse needs of patients is important. By recognising the interconnected nature of these needs, we can have a greater impact.

Today on World AIDS Day, I pay tribute to all those who tirelessly work to expand access and boldly speak out against inaction. Let our collective experiences and successes serve as a guiding light, ensuring a more inclusive and effective approach to healthcare for all.”

Source: Jayasree Iyer/LinkedIn.