Situation
According to the Kenya National Cancer Control Strategy 2017-2022, lung cancer accounted for 794 cases with 729 deaths and a prevalence of 1.75 per 100,000. This translates to a case fatality of 92 percent, ranking it 14th among all cancer types in the country. The financial burden of cancer treatment in Kenya is also substantial.
A pilot study assessing the direct medical costs revealed that patients undergoing chemotherapy alone incur an average expense of KES 138,207 (USD 1,364.30). These high treatment costs place a considerable burden on households, often leading patients to rely on community fundraising from friends, family, and well-wishers to cover expenses. In some cases, patients may forgo treatment altogether due to financial constraints. The financial toxicity of cancer care in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya encompasses both objective financial burdens, such as direct and indirect care-related costs, and subjective financial distress, including material and psychosocial stress. These financial challenges are compounded by other barriers, including inadequate knowledge about cancer, poor health-seeking behavior, and long distances to access treatment facilities, all of which can compromise patient survival.
Solution
Recognizing this critical situation, a multinational pharmaceutical company partnered with Axios to launch a Patient Assistance Program designed to address financial barriers to treatment. Patients enrolled in an Axios-managed PAP receive a personalized plan outlining how much financial support they will receive to cover the cost of their full course of treatment, and how much they may need to contribute themselves. The level of financial support received by each patient is based on their financial capacity, as assessed through Axios’ proprietary, validated Patient Financial Evaluation Tool (PFET).
Axios complemented the PAP with its On Time Access (OTA) solution to address a specific challenge: patients who could ultimately afford their share of treatment but did not have the cash available when treatment needed to begin.
OTA provides flexible, zero interest installment arrangements, allowing patients to spread their contribution across a personalized payment schedule rather than facing the full cost upfront.
Results
Since its introduction in 2023, the PAP has supported over 50 patients enrolled in the PAP. With high acceptance rates among both physicians and patients, the PAP, combined with OTA, has expedited treatment initiation, enabling patients to receive their medications within one month of enrolment.
By addressing cash flow barriers, the program significantly reduces the likelihood of patients dropping out or discontinuing treatment, ensuring better adherence and improved health outcomes. Through this program, lung cancer patients in Kenya are now better equipped to access the care they need, fostering improved health outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
