Access to cancer drugs: Are we meeting the needs of Malaysian?

Abstract

ObjectiveProviding access to essential cancer drugs is a mounting challenge in low- and middle income countries (LMICs). There is variability in inclusion of these drugs into the national essential medicines list (NEML) of LMICs including Malaysia. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the current status of access to essential cancer drugs in the Ministry of Health Malaysia. The overall access to cancer drugs was also assessed as a secondary objective. MethodsThe Malaysia NEML (4th edition), Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF) and the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (WHO EML) 2013 and 2015 was obtained. The total number of cancer drugs under the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification of L01 available in the NEML and the MOHMF in comparison to WHO EML was analysed. Total number of cancer drugs available in MOHMF was also analysed. ResultsMalaysia NEML has 20 cancer drugs which corresponds to 90.9% and 58.8% of the cancer drugs in WHO EML 2013 and 2015 respectively. Comparison with MOHMF found that all cancer drugs recommended in the WHO EML are listed in the formulary. DiscussionBased on the NEML, results indicate limited access to essential cancer drugs in MOH. However, since access to treatment in Ministry of Health is dependent on drugs listed in the MOHMF, access to essential cancer drugs was found to be good. Nevertheless, there is still concerns regarding overall access to cancer treatment in the Ministry of Health Malaysia considering the limited adoption of new innovative cancer therapies.