A/63/263 Pricing, discounting and donations 33. When formulating and implementing its access to medicines policy, the company should consider all the arrangements at its disposal with a view to ensuring that its medicines are affordable to as many people as possible. In keeping with Guideline 5, the company should give particular attention to ensuring its medicines are accessible to disadvantaged individuals, communities and populations, including those living in poverty and the very poorest in all markets. The arrangements should include, for example, differential pricing between countries, differential pricing within countries, commercial voluntary licences, not-for-profit voluntary licences, donation programmes, and publicprivate partnerships. 34. The arrangements should take into account a country’s stage of economic development, as well as the differential purchasing power of populations within a country. The same medicine, for example, may be priced and packaged differently for the private and public sectors within the same country. 35. The arrangements should extend to all medicines manufactured by the company, including those for non-communicable conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. 36. The company should have a board-approved policy that fully conforms to the current World Health Organization Guidelines for Drug Donations. 37. The company should ensure that its discount and donation schemes and their delivery channels are: (a) As simple as possible, e.g., the schemes should place the minimum administrative burden on the beneficiary health system; (b) As inclusive as possible, e.g., the schemes should not be confined to delivery channels that, in practice, exclude disadvantaged individuals and communities. 38. The company should disclose: (a) As much information as possible about its pricing and discounting arrangements; (b) The absolute quantity and value of its drug donations; 15 (c) Where possible, the number of beneficiary patients treated each (d) The amount of any tax benefit arising from its donations. year; Commentary: While recognizing they have a responsibility to enhance shareholder value, companies also have a human rights responsibility to extend access to medicines for all, including disadvantaged individuals, communities and populations (Guideline 5). In this context, pricing has a critical role to play. Lower prices do not necessarily mean lower profits. Sometimes the goal of enhancing access to medicines coincides with commercial interests. There are numerous arrangements that may reduce prices and increase sales, some of which are mentioned in Guidelines 33 and 34. Because the lives and health of millions are at __________________ 15 08-45647 “Value” as defined in Guideline 11, World Health Organization Guidelines for Drug Donations. 23