Commercial determinants of health and inequality in access to medicines

Access to medicines: a major issue for the right to health

At the global level, access to healthcare, particularly to medicines, remains a major challenge for the right to health. Insulin, although discovered in 1921, is a striking example: its high cost and supply shortages make it difficult to access, especially in low- and middle-income countries, but also for certain vulnerable populations in high-income countries such as Switzerland. In autumn 2025, a roundtable co-organised by Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) examined the commercial barriers to equitable access to medicines.

Faced with these challenges, a collective and systemic response is essential. It is necessary to strengthen public regulation, ensure transparency in industrial practices, promote independent research, and guarantee universal access to essential medicines such as insulin.

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Profits over health? Industry practices, medicine shortages, and the cost of care

Equitable access to medicines is a major complex global health challenge. To improve access to medicines a variety of elements are needed, globally and nationally including ensuring transparency in industry practices, strengthening regulatory agencies, and promoting independent research. Using insulin as a tracer medicine helps understand this complexity and highlight the commercial determinants of these barriers. In order to change this paradigm governments, the private sector, and civil society all need to play a key role to guarantee universal access to essential medicines, such as insulin.

What we see with the case of access to insulin and many medicines is that the private sector’s power remains unchecked by governments and civil society. What we see with the case of access to insulin and many medicines is that the private sector’s power remains unchecked by governments and civil society.

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