Universal Access to New Generation Direct-Acting Antivirals to Reduce the Burden of Hepatitis C in Portugal

Tato-Marinho, R.; Mota-Filipe, Hélder; Martins, Ana Patrícia; Martins, José Carlos Amado; Rodrigues, Josemar; Andreozzi, V.; Vandewalle, B.; Félix, J.; Alves, Elisabete

doi:10.1016/s0168-8278(16)01596-8

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Initially, in Portugal, DAAs cost approximately € 40,000 per patient [ 12 ] and treatment was restricted to patients with severe cirrhosis who required a liver transplant, which led to community advocacy in the media and parliament [ 80 ] designed to shift discussions about hepatitis C from prevention to cure [ 80 ]. In February 2015, the Portuguese government announced a risk-sharing and volume-based agreement with Gilead, enabling universal access to treatment for all patients, regardless of fibrosis stage [ 80 , 81 ]. Gilead would initially only receive payment per patient (less than € 7000) if treatment led to a cure.…”

Section: Case Study 2: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gilead would initially only receive payment per patient (less than € 7000) if treatment led to a cure. A national registry was established to monitor cure rates 12 weeks post-treatment [ 81 ]. As of July 2017, 17,591 patients had been authorised treatment, 11,972 patients had initiated treatment and 6639 (96.5%) patients were clinically cured [ 82 ].…”

Section: Case Study 2: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathways to ensure universal and affordable access to hepatitis C treatment

Douglass

Pedrana

Lazarus

et al. 2018

BMC Med

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Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have dramatically changed the landscape of hepatitis C treatment and prevention. The World Health Organization has called for the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. However, the discrepancy in DAA prices across low-, middle- and high-income countries is considerable, ranging from less than US$ 100 to approximately US$ 40,000 per course, thus representing a major barrier for the scale-up of treatment and elimination. This article describes DAA pricing and pathways to accessing affordable treatment, providing case studies from Australia, Egypt and Portugal. Pathways to accessing DAAs include developing comprehensive viral hepatitis plans to facilitate price negotiations, voluntary and compulsory licenses, patent opposition, joint procurement, and personal importation schemes. While multiple factors influence the price of DAAs, a key driver is a country’s capacity and willingness to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. If negotiations do not lead to a reasonable price, governments have the option to utilise flexibilities outlined in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Affordable access to DAAs is underpinned by collaboration between government, civil society, global organisations and pharmaceutical companies to ensure that all patients can access treatment. Promoting these pathways is critical for influencing policy, improving access to affordable DAAs and achieving hepatitis C elimination.

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Section: Case Study 2: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Case Study 2: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways to ensure universal and affordable access to hepatitis C treatment

Douglass

Pedrana

Lazarus

et al. 2018

BMC Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Major discounts on drug pricing in Portugal have also led to universal treatment access; since February 2015, individuals with chronic hepatitis C have had non-restricted access to sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens. Although treatment uptake has not been as dramatic as in Australia, over 6500 Portuguese initiated treatment in the first nine months of the scheme [15].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%