Situation
In the early 2010s, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was investing heavily in healthcare, yet affordability remained a barrier for some patients seeking access to high quality treatments.
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) were two examples where effective therapies were available, but the cost of sustained treatment could put them out of reach for patients without adequate coverage.
A multinational pharmaceutical company partnered with Axios to develop a Patient Assistance Program (PAP) designed to address these affordability barriers while creating a sustainable approach to patient access.
Solution
Axios initially designed the program as a partial payment model, allowing patients to contribute toward treatment based on their individual ability to pay while bridging the remaining financial gap.
Patient affordability was assessed using Axios’ Patient Financial Evaluation Tool, or PFET, enabling support to be tailored to individual circumstances.
Over time, the program evolved into a broader 360 degree support model addressing more of the patient journey, from diagnosis through treatment access and adherence.
Axios manages key elements of the program, including financial eligibility assessments, drug logistics and coordination among patients, physicians and pharmacists.
The model has also been strengthened through collaboration with local stakeholders, including pharmacies, government entities and charitable organizations.
Results
Since its inception, the Program has had a transformative impact on healthcare access in the country. Today, it is one of longest-running access programs in the UAE currently supporting over 4,000 patients across more than 90 hospitals, with many participants enrolled for more than five years, a strong signal that the model holds up not just at launch but over the long term. What began as support for two disease areas has grown into a program spanning ophthalmology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology, dermatology, endocrinology, and hematology, and what began as support for uninsured patients now also serves insured patients navigating co-pay burdens.
