Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2014

The Pharmaceutical Industry's Contributions to the UN Millennium Development Goals

Jeremiah Norris, Carol Adelman, Yulya Spantchak, Kacie Marano

May 2013

Hudson Institute

Abstract

Member States of the United Nations unanimously endorsed the Millennium Declaration on September 8, 2000. One of its provisions resolved “to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to make essential drugs more widely available and affordable to those who need them in developing countries.” Then, in late September, the UN established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), drawing its authorization from the original Declaration. There are eight goals that address a variety of global issues, including education, poverty, environment, and health. The Goals were set to be achieved by 2015, with indicators applied to measure progress.