A novel initiative to improve access to medicines for control of non-communicable diseases in low-and middle- income countries

Gates Open Research

article

Linda M. Mobula¹  Stephen Sarfo³  Lynda Arthur⁴  Gilbert Burnham²  Daniel Ansong⁵  Jacob Plange-Rhule⁶  David Ofori-Adjei⁷ 

[1] Johns Hopkins School of Medicine;Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health;Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology;Ghana Access and Affordability Program;Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology;Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons;Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Ghana

关键词: Hypertension;    Diabetes;    Ghana;    Differential Pricing;    LMIC;    Non-Communicable Diseases;    Universal Health Coverage;   

DOI  :  10.12688/gatesopenres.12798.2

学科分类：电子与电气工程

来源: American Journal Of Pharmtech Research

【 摘 要 】

The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is growing, and access to prevention and treatment strategies remain limited, especially for those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).   Novel approaches are needed to improve access and affordability of medicines that can treat NCDs in LMICs.  The Access and Affordability Initiative (AAI) is a public private partnership aiming to improve access to and availability of essential medicines for the treatment of NCDs and strengthening of health systems. Through this novel initiative a prospective cohort of patients with hypertension and diabetes were followed in Ghana and the Philippines to examine the effect of differential pricing on access to treatment of hypertension and diabetes. An integrated approach including differential pricing, health systems strengthening, improved supply chain management and greater affordability can improve access to medicines for NCDs.   While differential pricing has several advantages for improving the affordability of NCD medicines in LMICs, it can’t overcome all barriers as a standalone approach.  An integrated approach to health systems strengthening, supply chain management and affordability are needed to overcome key challenges in getting medicines for NCD to patients in LMICs. Availability and affordability of medicines to treat NCDs among vulnerable patients will help achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

【 授权许可】

CC BY