Situation
In countries with limited healthcare infrastructure and financial disparities, patients face significant barriers to accessing life-saving treatments, particularly for chronic conditions in disease areas such as oncology and more. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases are responsible for 74 percent of all deaths globally, with 17 million people dying from a noncommunicable disease before the age of 70 each year. Notably, 86 percent of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income (LMICs) countries. In LMICs, healthcare systems often experience significant disparities, including limited access to cancer screening, prevention services, and state-of-the-art oncological treatments. These statistics underscore the critical need for targeted interventions to address healthcare access disparities, particularly for patients with chronic conditions in resource-limited settings.
Solution
To improve access to healthcare, a multinational company identified the need for a solution that could provide equitable access to treatments while considering the financial realities of underserved populations, especially in regions where it had a strong presence. The company founded an Access to Medicines initiative and partnered with Axios International to provide effective and sustainable access solutions to patients.
The company launched a Patient Assistance Program (PAP) designed, managed, and implemented by Axios International, and customized it to the unique needs of local contexts. The PAP is now tailored to meet individual needs, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent patients from completing their prescribed treatment regimens. Each patient undergoes a confidential financial assessment through Axios’ validated Patient Financial Eligibility Tool (PFET) to determine their ability to contribute toward treatment costs. Based on these results, the company covers the remaining portion of the treatment plan, ensuring accessibility without imposing undue financial burdens. Axios’ role extends beyond implementation to include monitoring key PAP outcomes, such as treatment adherence and reasons for discontinuation. Since its launch in 2017, the PAP has expanded globally. It began in Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Lebanon (2017) and extended to Egypt, Brazil, Kenya, Thailand, Ukraine, and the UAE (2018). By 2019, it reached Indonesia and Tanzania, and in 2021, the PAPs were introduced in India. In 2022, the PAP expanded to Qatar and Ukraine. By 2023, an additional PAP was introduced in India while the PAP was launched in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Vietnam in the same year as well. In 2024, the program was introduced in Iraq and Oman.
Results
As of 2024, the PAP has supported over 7,600 patients across 20 countries, providing access to essential treatments for oncology, rare diseases, and other chronic conditions. The PAPs address affordability challenges by covering a significant portion of treatment costs and ensuring patients complete their prescribed regimens through program support. By collaborating with healthcare providers, pharmacists, and local distributors, the PAP has bridged gaps in treatment access, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.
To learn more about our services, write to axios@axiosint.com
