Open AccessAccess to Cancer Medicine Issues: Implication for Policy and Practice in Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Henok Getachew Tegegn,
Hailemariam Lemma Reda,
Yared Tilahun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.14000
Subject(s) - medicine , essential medicines , health care , public health , family medicine , subsidy , nursing , economic growth , market economy , economics
55 Purpose Cancer currently is a major public health problem in developing countries. In Ethiopia, cancer is responsible for 5.8% of total national deaths. Patients often present with advanced stage cancer and have limited access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Access to affordable cytotoxic medicines is a major challenge in the care of patients with cancer, especially in resource-poor settings, such as Ethiopia. This aim of this study was to explore perceived challenges in the accessibility of cancer chemotherapy drugs among different stakeholders in Ethiopia.Methods A qualitative study was performed using face-to-face in-depth interviews with such key informants as health care providers, supply chain management experts, and decision makers working in the Ministry of Health.Results A total of six key informants participated in this case report, with two oncology pharmacists, two supply chain management experts, one expert from the Ministry of Health, and one private supplier. Challenges were explored and viewed from the perspectives of policy, supply chain management, and health service. The most frequently identified challenges were the presence of inconsistent services and few currently active cancer centers, such as Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, Gondar University Hospital, and Jimma University Hospital; difficulties in cancer commodity management; implementation challenges with cancer medicine cost subsidy programs; lack of an efficient stock status reporting system; supplementary medicine requirements; an inefficient market (costly, few suppliers, and noneconomic quantities); the need for combinations of cancer medicines; and a lack of national treatment guidelines.Conclusion Respondents suggested ways forward that included the participation of relevant and specific stakeholders, such as government and private pharmaceutical suppliers, the Ministry of Health, nongovernmental organizations, and hospitals. Strengthening supply chain management at all levels and sustainable subsidy programs for cancer medicines should be sought to avoid frequent interruptions in the availability of chemotherapy drugs.AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No COIs from the authors.