[Ip-health] MMV MoH Uganda report reveals ACTs urgently need to be made more affordable

[Jaya Banerji]

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Ugandan Ministry of Health - Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)

ACTs too expensive and not widely available for millions in Africa

First antimalarial market survey in Uganda: urgent action needed



Geneva / Kampala, November 6th 2008 -

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) today launched a report (
http://www.mmv.org/article.php3?id_article=536) providing the
largest-ever body of evidence supporting the need for urgent action to
improve access to antimalarials. The report: "Understanding the
Antimalarials Market: Uganda 2007"[1] is based on data gathered by the
Ministry of Health (MoH) Uganda and MMV[2] a public private partnership
for the development and delivery of low cost effective malaria
treatments.



The MMV and MoH study found that although the government and WHO
recommend a new class of effective antimalarial medicines called
'artemisinin combination therapies' (ACTs), these are not widely
available in the rural areas of Uganda, particularly outside of
government health facilities. ACTs can cost up to 60 times the price of
ineffective medicines like chloroquine. The report also found that in
Uganda:



*         ACTs comprised only 10% of 174 different antimalarials found
on the market.

*         An average family's yearly ACT needs can cost up to 62 days of
the household's basic food needs and 91 days of average household
income.

*         Only 50% of patients buy a full course of medicines,
increasing the risk of resistance.



"Malaria is completely curable but too many people die because effective
medicines are neither affordable nor available." said Chris Hentschel,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Medicines for Malaria Venture.
"This study provides powerful evidence to policy-makers and donors to
build a case for greater accessibility of effective antimalarials via
all channels, public or private," he added.



The report showed that 71% of outlets providing antimalarial medicines
are private sector facilities and that, due to their high price, ACTs
are not widely available in these outlets. ACTs are free in the public
sector, but are often not available due to stock-outs.



"Governments and donors will not win the fight against malaria and
poverty unless they continue to strengthen the public health system.
However, the study leaves us in no doubt that ACTs must also be made
available in the private sector at a price that people can afford"
stated Prof Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back
Malaria Partnership. "It presents evidence on the urgent need for action
to ensure ACTs reach more people, quickly. There is no time to waste."



"It is encouraging that MMV has used our WHO/Health Action International
survey method and adapted it to improve understanding of market
segmentation and dynamics. For example, medicines may be cheap in the
public sector, but if they are not available the patient will turn to
the more expensive products in the private pharmacy around the corner or
go without treatment," said Hans Hogerzeil, Director, Essential
Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies, World Health Organization. "This
information will help us to increase access to effective essential
medicines against malaria."



Building on the evidence, MMV and the Ugandan Ministry of Health are
conducting pilot studies to assess the impact of making subsidized ACTs
available via the private sector. The market report is being launched at
a critical time - when the Global Fund Board will decide when and how to
implement a new subsidy initiative - the "Affordable Medicines Facility
for malaria" (AMFm) - to make effective malaria medicines affordable and
available through all appropriate channels.



"The Ministry of Health Uganda is proud to have been associated with
this groundbreaking work. 350 Ugandan children die every day due to
malaria in my country. This report provides clear evidence on how we can
make life-saving ACTs available to this vulnerable population." said the
Hon. Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Uganda's Minister of Health.

ENDS



MEDICINES FOR MALARIA VENTURE (MMV)

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is a non-profit organization created
to discover, develop and deliver effective and affordable antimalarial
drugs through public-private partnerships. Our vision is a world in
which these innovative medicines will cure and protect the millions at
risk of malaria and help to ultimately eradicate this terrible disease.

MMV is currently managing the largest-ever portfolio of over 50
antimalarial projects in collaboration with over 100 pharmaceutical,
academic, and endemic-country partners in 38 countries. The portfolio
includes 19 completely new classes of compounds. Of the four projects in
late-stage clinical development, three are artemisinin combination
therapies (ACTs), which will be registered by stringent regulatory
authorities and are expected to gain market authorization between 2009
and 2010.



New and improved treatment solutions are urgently needed for the 2.4
billion people at risk from malaria. MMV is working to ensure that its
products will have the greatest possible public health impact and, most
importantly, save lives.



For further information please contact:

Jaya Banerji   (MMV Geneva)                   Mr Paul Kagwa  (MoH
Uganda)

Head of Communications                         Assistant Commissioner

Mob: +41 79 707 7181                            Health Education and
Promotion

www.mmv.org                                         Mob: +256 772
5077999



                                                          Dr Ambrose
Talisuna (MMV Uganda)

                                                          Mob: +256 (71)
2506 275




________________________________

[1] This study, led by Medicines for Malaria Venture in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health Uganda, HEPS and WHO, was drafted by Martin
Auton, Renia Coghlan and Aziz Maija.  It identifies the following
aspects of the market: the types of antimalarial medicine available on
the market, availability of product by outlet type, range of prices,
affordability, supply-chain structure, and price mark-ups.

[2] The study was carried out in nine districts of Uganda[2]: In June
2007, it was implemented in 5 eastern districts/district groupings:
Kamuli/Kaliro, Pallisa/Budaka and Soroti; and, in September 2007, in 4
western districts: Kabarole, Kamwenge and Mubende/Mityana. The selection
of two different regions took into account the two main malaria
transmission settings, high and medium, in Uganda.



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Content-Description: MMV Uganda Market Key Findings FINAL Nov_2008 .doc

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Content-Description: MMV report release Fin 6nov08.pdf

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