Pfizer, China Sign Health Coverage Improvement Agreement

Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant from the United States, has signed an agreement with China to cooperate on improving the country’s health coverage.

“We are aligned very much with the China ‘Healthy 2030’ [initiative] and we are trying to contribute as much as we can,” said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

He declined to share further details, including dollar amounts.

In 2016, China announced a “Healthy China 2030” plan for improving the country’s public health services, medical industry, and food and drug safety. The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted shortfalls in China’s still-developing public health system.

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Pfizer’s memorandum of understanding with the Health China Research Center is set to support public health research and improve the health of rural populations, according to details released by Chinese state media.

“Any individuals and citizens from China would have the same access to our innovative product,” Pfizer China President Jean-Christophe Pointeau said in the report.

He said the company has around 600 staff dedicated to rural areas “to educate the health care professionals on our breakthrough innovation Oncology, Anti-infectives, and Inflammation & Immunology.”

During the weekend, the Paxlovid drug for treating Covid was not discussed.

In January, Pfizer signed an agreement with a local partner to manufacture Paxlovid in China, and production could begin in as soon as three or four months.