Open AccessIncreasing access to quality anticancer medicines in low- and middle-income countries: the experience of Uganda
Author(s) -
Godfrey Osinde,
Nixon Niyonzima,
Vivienne Mulema,
Deo Kyambadde,
Yusuf Mulumba,
Siraj Obayo,
Ezra Anecho,
Susan Watera,
Mughuma Constance,
Sylivestor Kadhumbula,
Jackson Orem
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
future oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.857
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1744-8301
pISSN - 1479-6694
DOI - 10.2217/fon-2021-0117
Subject(s) - medicine , procurement , developing country , referral , access to medicines , regulatory authority , gross national income , quality (philosophy) , healthcare system , essential medicines , environmental health , economic growth , health care , business , family medicine , public health , marketing , nursing , economics , philosophy , public administration , epistemology , political science
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death with 9.6 million deaths registered in 2018, of which 70% occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America, the low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The global annual expenditure on anticancer medicines increased from $96 billion in 2013 to $133 billion in 2017. This growth rate is several folds that of newly diagnosed cancer cases and therefore estimated to reach up to $200 billion by 2022. The Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda's national referral cancer center, has increased access to cancer medicines through an efficient and cost-saving procurement system. The system has achieved cost savings of more than USD 2,000,000 on a total of 37 of 42 essential cancer medicines. This has resulted in 85.8% availability superseding the WHO's 80% target. All selected products were procured from manufacturers with stringent regulatory authority approval or a proven track record of quality products.