[e-drug] Improving Access to Cancer Care - new report from ATMF

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Improving Access to Cancer Care - new report from ATMF
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Dear e-drug members,

At the end of May, we published an analysis of pharmaceutical company
activities that aim to improve access to cancer care in low and middle
income countries. To our knowledge, this is the first landscape analysis of
the range and type of activities such companies are engaging in, for which
cancer types, and where. The analysis also compares companies' engagement
against the products they are marketing, including whether or not those
products are on the EML.

We looked at the activities of the 20 pharmaceutical companies included in
the 2016 Access to Medicine Index (includes 5 of the world's 6 largest
companies by oncology revenues). We found 129 separate initiatives, with
the bulk (71) centered around capacity building (for example, diagnosis,
screening). 13 initiatives are linked to specific products; 36 relate to a
pricing approach.

You can download the report (PDF) from our website:
https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/publications/how-pharma-
companies-address-access-cancer-care/

The companies have 55 cancer or cancer-related products that are on the WHO
Model Essential Medicines List (EML) - based on the 2015 EML. To date, 11
EML products (from three companies: AstraZeneca, Novartis and Roche) are
incorporated into an access initiative.

We think this landscape provides a useful benchmark for global health
stakeholders to build understanding of the range of activities companies
are engaging in, the decisions companies take, and the factors which might
impact this. We hope it proves useful for deepening - where appropriate -
the involvement of such companies in addressing the growing cancer burden
in low and middle-income countries.

If you would like to talk to us about this research, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Danny

Danny Edwards
Access to Medicine Foundation
www.accesstomedicinefoundation.org
Danny Edwards <dedwards@accesstomedicinefoundation.org>

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E-DRUG: Improving Access to Cancer Care - new report from ATMF (2)
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Dear all,

Many thanks to Danny Edwards for this post. In Zambia we initiated an approach in regards to provision of renal dialysis services, following observation that there was
increasing need for this service, but the country could not afford the cost of procedures and other related treatment, care and support services.

Using the public private partnership platform, two Europe- based leaders in renal dialysis services,working through their Zambia branches, agreed with the Ministry of Health for long term partnership that allowed for affordable renal dialysis services, with a view to roll out this service to public health institutions across the country.

This arrangement includes, on the part of the companies, placement of dialysis machinery, huge investment in regular, long- term training, provision of post- installation services. This strategy now appears to be the method of engagement with providers of renal dialysis services.

However, it is a strategy that can apply to other high cost healthcare programmes, as long as private public partnership rules and regulations are applied, and other applicable laws have been taken into account.

Regards,

Bonnie
Bonface Fundafunda PhD., MBA., B.Pharm
Zambia
BONFACE FUNDAFUNDA <bcfunda@hotmail.com>