‘Churning out breakthroughs that change patients’ lives’

•Pfizer renews commitment, highlights patient-centricity efforts during Patients in Focus Week

As part of efforts to celebrate Patients in Focus Week and Cancer Awareness Month, Pfizer has reiterated its commitment to churning out breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.

The company, on Monday, launched a global, weeklong event from October 4 to 8, Patients in Focus, to recognise the influence patients have on every facet of its work as well as discuss health disparities and other barriers to care.

Pfizer Nigeria’s Country Manager & Cluster Lead, West Africa, Olayinka Subair, told journalists that with the theme “Patients are Our Why”, Patients In Focus signifies a renewal of the company’s commitment to serving patients and achieving its goal of being the most patient-centric company.

Subair said: “Our focus is always on the patients as we deploy resources to bring treatments that extend and significantly improve their lives. We consistently seek to collaborate with stakeholders to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care in communities all around.

“We are made up of many local markets and differing functions, but our Purpose at Pfizer is global: to develop breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. For our work to be meaningful, every function of Pfizer needs to understand the importance of engaging patients, caregivers, and advocates in our work. Patients in Focus week will showcase where we have made an impact on patients’ lives and empower colleagues to learn from each other and continue putting the patient first in everything we do.”

In Nigeria, the company is demonstrating its commitment to patients through an interactive panel discussion with Subair; consultant oncologist, National Hospital Abuja and President, African Organisation for Research & Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Dr. Bello Abubakar; Lead, Network of People Impacted by Cancer In Nigeria (NePICiN), Ms. MaryGloria Anulika Orji to discuss health disparities and other barriers to care.

Subair added: “ While we’re made up of many markets, and have different roles and functions throughout the organisation, we all have the same purpose at Pfizer to bring breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Patients in Focus gives us a platform for sharing global success stories and best practices that empower and inspire all of us, while highlighting the benefit of global resources such as the Global Patient Advocacy team and new Patient Centricity Hub.

“Patients in Focus is a time when we can host and participate in a variety of activities and events that highlight the importance patients have at every step of the work we do every day.”

On breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, he said: “At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments, and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.

“Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com.”