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Ocan M, Nakalembe L, Otike C, Mordecai T, Birungi J, Nsobya S. Access to quality-assured artemisinin-based combination therapy and associated factors among clients of selected private drug outlets in Uganda. Malar J 2024; 23:128. [PMID: 38689257 PMCID: PMC11059854 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04956-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria treatment in sub-Saharan Africa is faced with challenges including unreliable supply of efficacious agents, substandard medicines coupled with high price of artemisinin-based combinations. This affects access to effective treatment increasing risk of malaria parasite resistance development and adverse drug events. This study investigated access to quality-assured artemisinin-based combination therapy (QAACT) medicines among clients of selected private drug-outlets in Uganda. METHODS This was a cross sectional study where exit interviews were conducted among clients of private drug outlets in low and high malaria transmission settings in Uganda. This study adapted the World Health Organization/Health Action International (WHO/HAI) standardized criteria. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire. Data entry screen with checks was created in Epi-data ver 4.2 software and data entered in duplicate. Data was transferred to STATA ver 14.0 and cleaned prior to analysis. The analysis was done at 95% level of significance. RESULTS A total of 1114 exit interviews were conducted among systematically sampled drug outlet clients. Over half, 54.9% (611/1114) of the participants were males. Majority, 97.2% (1083/1114) purchased an artemisinin-based combination anti-malarial. Most, 55.5% (618/1114) of the participants had a laboratory diagnosis of malaria. Majority, 77.9% (868/1114) of the participants obtained anti-malarial agents without a prescription. Less than a third, 27.7% (309/1114) of the participants obtained a QAACT. Of the participants who obtained QAACT, more than half 56.9% (173/309) reported finding the medicine expensive. The predictors of accessing a QAACT anti-malarial among drug outlet clients include type of drug outlet visited (aPR = 0.74; 95%CI 0.6, 0.91), not obtaining full dose (3-day treatment) of ACT (aPR = 0.49; 95%CI 0.33, 0.73), not finding the ACT expensive (aPR = 1.24; 95%CI 1.03, 1.49), post-primary education (aPR = 1.29; 95%CI 1.07,1.56), business occupation (aPR = 1.24; 95%CI 1.02,1.50) and not having a prescription (aPR = 0.76; 95%CI 0.63, 0.92). CONCLUSION Less than a third of the private drug outlet clients obtained a QAACT for management of malaria symptoms. Individuals who did not find artemisinin-based combinations to be expensive were more likely to obtain a QAACT anti-malarial. The Ministry of Health needs to conduct regular surveillance to monitor accessibility of QAACT anti-malarial agents under the current private sector copayment mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses Ocan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Loyce Nakalembe
- Department of Pharmacology, Soroti University, P. O. Box 211, Soroti, Uganda
| | - Caroline Otike
- Data Department, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Lubowa, P. O Box 10005, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tayebwa Mordecai
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences Grants Office, P. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joan Birungi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sam Nsobya
- Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
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Orwa TO, Mbogo RW, Luboobi LS. Optimal control analysis of hepatocytic-erythrocytic dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Infect Dis Model 2022; 7:82-108. [PMID: 34977436 PMCID: PMC8686038 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents an in-host malaria model subject to anti-malarial drug treatment and malaria vaccine antigens combinations. Pontryagin's Maximum Principle is applied to establish optimal control strategies against infected erythrocytes, infected hepatocytes and malaria parasites. Results from numerical simulation reveal that a combination of pre-erythrocytic vaccine antigen, blood schizontocide and gametocytocide drugs would offer the best strategy to eradicate clinical P. falciparum malaria. Sensitivity analysis, further reveal that the efficacy of blood schizontocides and blood stage vaccines are crucial in the control of clinical malaria infection. Futhermore, we found that an effective blood schizontocide should be used alongside efficacious blood stage vaccine for rapid eradication of infective malaria parasites. The authors hope that the results of this study will help accelerate malaria elimination efforts by combining malaria vaccines and anti-malarial drugs against the deadly P. falciparum malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titus Okello Orwa
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Strathmore University, P.O Box 59 857-00 200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rachel Waema Mbogo
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Strathmore University, P.O Box 59 857-00 200, Nairobi, Kenya
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de Haan F, Bolarinwa OA, Guissou R, Tou F, Tindana P, Boon WPC, Moors EHM, Cheah PY, Dhorda M, Dondorp AM, Ouedraogo JB, Mokuolu OA, Amaratunga C. To what extent are the antimalarial markets in African countries ready for a transition to triple artemisinin-based combination therapies? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256567. [PMID: 34464398 PMCID: PMC8407563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) are being developed as a response to artemisinin and partner drug resistance in the treatment of falciparum malaria in Southeast Asia. In African countries, where current artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are still effective, TACTs have the potential to benefit the larger community and future patients by mitigating the risk of drug resistance. This study explores the extent to which the antimalarial drug markets in African countries are ready for a transition to TACTs. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted in Nigeria and Burkina Faso and comprised in-depth interviews (n = 68) and focus group discussions (n = 11) with key actor groups in the innovation system of antimalarial therapies. RESULTS Evidence of ACT failure in African countries and explicit support for TACTs by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international funders were perceived important determinants for the market prospects of TACTs in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. At the country level, slow regulatory and implementation procedures were identified as potential barriers towards rapid TACTs deployment. Integrating TACTs in public sector distribution channels was considered relatively straightforward. More challenges were expected for integrating TACTs in private sector distribution channels, which are characterized by patient demand and profit motives. Finally, several affordability and acceptability issues were raised for which ACTs were suggested as a benchmark. CONCLUSION The market prospects of TACTs in Nigeria and Burkina Faso will depend on the demonstration of the added value of TACTs over ACTs, their advocacy by the WHO, the inclusion of TACTs in financial and regulatory arrangements, and their alignment with current distribution and deployment practices. Further clinical, health-economic and feasibility studies are required to inform decision makers about the broader implications of a transition to TACTs in African counties. The recent reporting of artemisinin resistance and ACT failure in Africa might change important determinants of the market readiness for TACTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freek de Haan
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Rosemonde Guissou
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Fatoumata Tou
- Institut des Sciences et Techniques, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Paulina Tindana
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Wouter P. C. Boon
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen H. M. Moors
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Phaik Yeong Cheah
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mehul Dhorda
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Arjen M. Dondorp
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jean Bosco Ouedraogo
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut des Sciences et Techniques, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Chanaki Amaratunga
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Kibira D, Ssebagereka A, van den Ham HA, Opigo J, Katamba H, Seru M, Reed T, Leufkens HG, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK. Trends in access to anti-malarial treatment in the formal private sector in Uganda: an assessment of availability and affordability of first-line anti-malarials and diagnostics between 2007 and 2018. Malar J 2021; 20:142. [PMID: 33691704 PMCID: PMC7944888 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03680-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is the single largest cause of illness in Uganda. Since the year 2008, the Global Fund has rolled out several funding streams for malaria control in Uganda. Among these are mechanisms aimed at increasing the availability and affordability of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). This paper examines the availability and affordability of first-line malaria treatment and diagnostics in the private sector, which is the preferred first point of contact for 61% of households in Uganda between 2007 and 2018. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were conducted between 2007 and 2018, based on a standardized World Health Organization/Health Action International (WHO/HAI) methodology adapted to assess availability, patient prices, and affordability of ACT medicines in private retail outlets. A minimum of 30 outlets were surveyed per year as prescribed by the standardized methodology co-developed by the WHO and Health Action International. Availability, patient prices, and affordability of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) was also tracked from 2012 following the rollout of the test and treat policy in 2010. The median patient prices for the artemisinin-based combinations and RDTs was calculated in US dollars (USD). Affordability was assessed by computing the number of days’ wages the lowest-paid government worker (LPGW) had to pay to purchase a treatment course for acute malaria. Results Availability of artemether/lumefantrine (A/L), the first-line ACT medicine, increased from 85 to100% in the private sector facilities during the study period. However, there was low availability of diagnostic tests in private sector facilities ranging between 13% (2012) and 37% (2018). There was a large reduction in patient prices for an adult treatment course of A/L from USD 8.8 in 2007 to USD 1.1 in 2018, while the price of diagnostics remained mostly stagnant at USD 0.5. The affordability of ACT medicines and RDTs was below one day’s wages for LPGW. Conclusions Availability of ACT medicines in the private sector medicines retail outlets increased to 100% while the availability of diagnostics remained low. Although malaria treatment was affordable, the price of diagnostics remained stagnant and increased the cumulative cost of malaria management. Malaria stakeholders should consolidate the gains made and consider the inclusion of diagnostic kits in the subsidy programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Kibira
- Utrecht Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), Plot 351A, Balintuma Road, Namirembe Hill, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Anthony Ssebagereka
- Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), Plot 351A, Balintuma Road, Namirembe Hill, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hendrika A van den Ham
- Utrecht Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jimmy Opigo
- National Malaria Control Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda, Plot 6 Lourdel Road, Wandegeya, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Henry Katamba
- National Malaria Control Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda, Plot 6 Lourdel Road, Wandegeya, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Morries Seru
- National Malaria Control Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda, Plot 6 Lourdel Road, Wandegeya, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tim Reed
- Health Action International, Overtoom 60, 1054 HK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hubert G Leufkens
- Utrecht Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse
- Utrecht Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ball D, Ewen M, Laing R, Beran D. Insulin price components: case studies in six low/middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001705. [PMID: 31565414 PMCID: PMC6747921 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Understanding price components for insulin products can help design interventions to improve insulin affordability in low/middle-income countries. Methods An adapted WHO/Health Action International standardised methodology was used in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), China (Hubei and Shaanxi Provinces), Ghana, India (Haryana State), Indonesia and Uganda. Selected insulin products had their prices traced backwards through the supply chain from public and private sector retail outlets in the capital city and a district town, supplemented with key informant interviews. Results Cumulative mark-ups ranged from 8.7% to 565.8% but the magnitude of mark-ups was country specific and variable within and across sectors and regions. The proportion of the patient price attributed to the manufacturer’s selling price varied from 15.0% to 92.0%. Pricing regulations in China, India and Indonesia reduced wholesale and retail mark-ups but did not guarantee low prices. Most countries had removed import duties (Ghana, India, Indonesia, Uganda), but additional tariffs of 3.5% were still applied in Ghana. Value-added tax in the private sector ranged from 5% to 20% across the countries. Conclusion There are no clear trends in the mark-ups applied to insulin or specific differences in the price structure. A uniform approach to improving insulin access through regulating price components is unlikely to be successful, but elimination of duties and taxes, price regulation and greater price transparency could help influence prices and hence affordability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Ball
- Public Health Pharmaceutical Consultant, Glasgow, UK
| | - Margaret Ewen
- Health Action International, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Laing
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Beran
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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Mardetko N, Kos M, Vogler S. Review of studies reporting actual prices for medicines. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2018; 19:159-179. [DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2019.1552137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nika Mardetko
- Faculty of pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mitja Kos
- Faculty of pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sabine Vogler
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies, Pharmacoeconomics Department, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (Austrian Public Health Institute), Vienna, Austria
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Rosapep L, Sanders E, Banke K. The influence of customer-medicine seller transactional dynamics on childhood diarrhoea management: a qualitative study in Ghana. Health Policy Plan 2017; 32:527-537. [PMID: 28073934 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czw155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) jointly revised the recommended treatment for acute paediatric diarrhoea to specify supplementing reduced osmolarity oral rehydration salts (ORS) with zinc. In many countries, however, a significant knowledge-practice gap persists in appropriate diarrhoea management among private healthcare providers. For example, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) project recently demonstrated that over-the-counter medicine sellers (MS) in Ghana recommended inappropriate diarrhoea treatments, despite their demonstrated knowledge of appropriate treatment protocols. To explore and explain these results, we conducted 26 focus groups with MS and their customers using an indirect elicitation approach, presenting simulated drug shop transaction scenarios for each group to analyze and discuss. Through inductive and deductive data analysis, we found that the pattern of customer-MS interactions within the transactional context plays a critical role in shaping dispensing outcomes, not only in diarrhoea management but in other contexts as well. MS who engaged and negotiated with their customers were better able to introduce and promote the appropriate diarrhoea treatment protocol. Several factors hinder optimal interactions. Although MS in fact serve as frontline medical providers, they lack the perceived status of a clinician. Moreover, the need to maintain their customer base creates a power imbalance that favours accommodating customer requests and discourages educational interaction. Finally, many MS lack a complete understanding of the recommended treatment, limiting their ability to educate and negotiate. These findings have important implications for efforts to position community-level private providers to improve outcomes across a number of health areas; the study recommends three broad approaches related to training design, marketing, and professional linkages. More generally, behaviour change initiatives should recognize the potential impact of provider interaction dynamics in facilitating or impeding desired health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Rosapep
- Abt Associates Inc., 4550 Montgomery Ave Suite 800N, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emily Sanders
- Edge Research, 1560 Wilson Blvd, Suite 475, Arlington, VA, 22209
| | - Kathryn Banke
- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 440 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA
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Kibira D, Kitutu FE, Merrett GB, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK. Availability, prices and affordability of UN Commission's lifesaving medicines for reproductive and maternal health in Uganda. J Pharm Policy Pract 2017; 10:35. [PMID: 29163976 PMCID: PMC5686951 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-017-0123-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Uganda was one of seven countries in which the United Nations Commission on Life Saving Commodities (UNCoLSC) initiative was implemented starting from 2013. A nationwide survey was conducted in 2015 to determine availability, prices and affordability of essential UNCoLSC maternal and reproductive health (MRH) commodities. Methods The survey at health facilities in Uganda was conducted using an adapted version of the standardized methodology co-developed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI). In this study, six maternal and reproductive health commodities, that were part of the UNCoLSC initiative, were studied in the public, private and mission health sectors. Median price ratios were calculated with Management Sciences for Health International Drug Price Indicator prices as reference. Maternal and reproductive health commodity stocks were reviewed from stock cards for their availability for a period of 6 months preceding the survey. Affordability was measured using wages of the lowest paid government worker. Results Overall none of the six maternal and reproductive commodities was found in the surveyed health facilities. Public sector had the highest availability (52%), followed by mission sector (36%) and then private sector had the least (30%). Stock outs ranged from 7 to 21 days in public sector; 2 to 23 days in private sector and 3 to 27 days in mission sector. During the survey, maternal health commodities were more available and had less number of stock out days than reproductive health commodities. Median price ratios (MPR) indicated that medicines and commodities were more expensive in Uganda compared to international reference prices. Furthermore, MRH medicines and commodities were more expensive and less affordable in private sector compared to mission sector. Conclusion Access to MRH commodities is inadequate in Uganda. Maternal health commodities were more available, cheaper and thus more affordable than reproductive health commodities in the current study. Efforts should be undertaken by the Ministry of Health and stakeholders to improve availability, prices and affordability of MRH commodities in Uganda to ensure that sustainable Development Goals are met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Kibira
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), Plot 351A, Balintuma Road, Namirembe Hill, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Freddy Eric Kitutu
- Makerere University, School of Public Health and Pharmacy Department, College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.,Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Tougher S, Hanson K, Goodman C. What happened to anti-malarial markets after the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria pilot? Trends in ACT availability, price and market share from five African countries under continuation of the private sector co-payment mechanism. Malar J 2017; 16:173. [PMID: 28441956 PMCID: PMC5405529 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1814-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The private sector supplies anti-malarial treatment for large proportions of patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Following the large-scale piloting of the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) from 2010 to 2011, a private sector co-payment mechanism (CPM) provided continuation of private sector subsidies for quality-assured artemisinin combination therapies (QAACT). This article analyses for the first time the extent to which improvements in private sector QAACT supply and distribution observed during the AMFm were maintained or intensified during continuation of the CPM through 2015 in Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda using repeat cross-sectional outlet survey data. Results QAACT market share in all five countries increased during the AMFm period (p < 0.001). According to the data from the last ACTwatch survey round, in all study countries except Madagascar, AMFm levels of private sector QAACT availability were maintained or improved. In 2014/15, private sector QAACT availability was greater than 70% in Nigeria (84.3%), Kenya (70.5%), Tanzania (83.0%) and Uganda (77.1%), but only 11.2% in Madagascar. QAACT market share was maintained or improved post-AMFm in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, but statistically significant declines were observed in Kenya and Madagascar. In 2014/5, QAACT market share was highest in Kenya and Uganda (48.2 and 47.5%, respectively) followed by Tanzania (39.2%), Nigeria (35.0%), and Madagascar (7.0%). Four of the five countries experienced significant decreases in median QAACT price during the AMFm period. Private sector QAACT prices were maintained or further reduced in Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda, but prices increased significantly in Kenya and Madagascar. SP prices were consistently lower than those of QAACT in the AMFm period, with the exception of Kenya and Tanzania in 2011, where they were equal. In 2014/5 QAACT remained two to three times more expensive than the most popular non-artemisinin therapy in all countries except Tanzania. Conclusions Results suggest that a private sector co-payment mechanism for QAACT implemented at national scale for 5 years was associated with positive and sustained improvements in QAACT availability, price and market share in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, with more mixed results in Kenya, and few improvements in Madagascar. The subsidy mechanism as implemented over time across countries was not sufficient on its own to achieve optimal QAACT uptake. Supporting interventions to address continued availability and distribution of non-artemisinin therapies, and to create demand for QAACT among providers and consumers need to be effectively implemented to realize the full potential of this subsidy mechanism. Furthermore, there is need for comprehensive market assessments to identify contemporary market barriers to high coverage with both confirmatory testing and appropriate treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1814-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Tougher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WCH 9SH, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WCH 9SH, UK
| | - Catherine Goodman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WCH 9SH, UK
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Hansen KS, Lesner TH, Østerdal LP. Optimal price subsidies for appropriate malaria testing and treatment behaviour. Malar J 2016; 15:534. [PMID: 27814767 PMCID: PMC5097430 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria continues to be a serious public health problem particularly in Africa. Many people infected with malaria do not access effective treatment due to high price. At the same time many individuals receiving malaria drugs do not suffer from malaria because of the common practice of presumptive diagnosis. A global subsidy on artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has recently been suggested to increase access to the most effective malaria treatment. Methods Following the recommendation by World Health Organization that parasitological testing should be performed before treatment and ACT prescribed to confirmed cases only, it is investigated in this paper if a subsidy on malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) should be incorporated. A model is developed consisting of a representative individual with fever suspected to be malaria, seeking care at a specialized drug shop where RDTs, ACT medicines, and cheap, less effective anti-malarials are sold. Assuming that the individual has certain beliefs of the accuracy of the RDT and the probability that the fever is malaria, the model predicts the diagnosis-treatment behaviour of the individual. Subsidies on RDTs and ACT are introduced to incentivize appropriate behaviour: choose an RDT before treatment and purchase ACT only if the test is positive. Results Solving the model numerically suggests that a combined subsidy on both RDT and ACT is cost minimizing and improves diagnosis-treatment behaviour of individuals. For certain beliefs, such as low trust in RDT accuracy and strong belief that a fever is malaria, subsidization is not sufficient to incentivize appropriate behaviour. Conclusions A combined subsidy on both RDT and ACT rather than a single subsidy is likely required to improve diagnosis-treatment behaviour among individuals seeking care for malaria in the private sector. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1582-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Schultz Hansen
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK. .,Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Tine Hjernø Lesner
- Department of Business and Economics, and Centre of Health Economics Research (COHERE), University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Lars Peter Østerdal
- Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, Porcelænshaven 16A, 2000, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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