Implementation of Country-Wide Pharmacoeconomic Principles in Cancer Care in Developing Countries: Expert-Based Recommendations

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer care is a major challenge to health care and for optimal outcomes, health systems need to align policy across many areas of public life. The recognition that even the wealthiest nations can fail optimum outcomes indicates a need for increased efficiency in cancer control programs. Fundamental to this is the efficient direction of resources--a process that can be optimized through economic measures. This article contains expert recommendations on how decision makers can implement pharmacoeconomic principles at national level in developing countries. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts was formed of oncologists, clinical pharmacists, health economists, and chronic disease control and public health experts from different countries and healthcare sectors. The panel developed consensus recommendations for different stakeholders using a framework analysis method. Results: Recommendations were categorized as national level, hospital level, industry level, and public-community level to support decision makers in implementing pharmacoeconomic principles in a systematic way. The recommendations included having proper wellstructured, data-driven processes with a specific role for each stakeholder. We proposed required structures and processes in such a way that they can be customized based on individual country plans. Conclusion: The expert panel recommendations will serve as a guide to relevant stakeholders at a national level. Adaptation of these recommendations to each setting is important to accommodate the situation and needs of each country.

Barriers and Facilitators of Pharmacoeconomic Studies: A Review of Evidence from the Middle Eastern Countries

“…This is a huge challenge to implement effective policies and guidelines in these countries. The lack of a governing body creates a leadership gap, and the absence of a system for evaluation and accountability leads to slow and ineffective implementation [23].…”

“…Absence of a national body to govern pharmacoeconomics Development of a national regulatory committee on pharmacoeconomics [23] Lack of balance between effectiveness and cost effectiveness on the part of doctors and pharmacists Proper monitoring and comparison of the cost-benefit ratio of drugs and patient follow-up procedures [25] Absence of local and national registries containing patient data and pharmacoeconomic records Allocation of specialized personnel for maintaining local and national registries and conducting proper accountability [27] Lack of funding to conduct a pharmacoeconomic evaluation Allocation of a specific health budget by governments to conduct pharmacoeconomic research and evaluation [28] Lack of good quality pharmacoeconomic data Maintenance of high-quality patient records in hospitals [31] Inadequate Pharmacoeconomic Workshops Organization of pharmacoeconomic workshops at a national and international level, encouragement of experts to participate in workshops.…”

Health Economic Publications From the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Scoping Review of the Volume and Methods of Research

“…[5] Although the institutional back-ground of health technology assessment and health economic evaluation is still under development, [6][7][8][9] a number of pharmacoeconomic guidelines and expert recommendations have already been published in both high-and middle-income countries in the region. [10][11][12] However, the health economic studies in MENA as a whole have not yet been systematically reviewed.…”