We need to stop saying it’s not our fault there is no infrastructure to deliver healthcare and start saying, 'Who can we work with to ensure that the infrastructure does exist?'

Powerful words from a company that is not just talking the talk but walking the walk. 

On February 13 Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline gave a speech  to the Harvard Medical School. He highlighted the shortcomings of international aid programs while outlining how GSK plans to accelerate its fight against diseases of the developing world through strengthening its capacity for partnerships.  

GSK has set out four new commitments to scale up their current projects and push forward on new ones:

1. GSK proposes the development of a Least Developed Country (LDC) Patent Pool for medicines for neglected tropical diseases. GSK is proposing to put their relevant small molecule compounds or process patents for neglected tropical diseases into the pool, allowing others to access, develop, and produce new products.
2. GSK will reduce their prices for patented medicines in the least development countries so that they will be no higher than 25% of the developed world pricing.
3. GSK will increase global research into diseases of the developing world through allowing partners into its facilities, with the goal to create a world-class, global center of excellence, not owned just by GSK, but by all of its partners, including governments, foundations or other companies.
4. GSK made a new commitment in which 20% of the profit they make selling medicines in LDCs will be reinvested in infrastructure projects in the LDCs.

Companies like GSK are making changes to not only advance the rate at which they reduce poverty but also to accelerate partnership.

BCLC’s Senior Advisor for Global Corporate Citizenship, Kurt Hoffman, says "GSK is a company that not only understands the social and humanity needs for addressing diseases in the developing world but the need for partnership and a systems view of how to tackle disease that will ensure the sustainable success."