Increasing Access to Quality Anticancer Medicines in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Experience of Uganda

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death with 9.6million deaths registered in 2018, of which 70% occur in Africa, Asiaand Central and South America, the low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The global annual expenditure on anticancer medicines increased from $96billion in 2013 to $133billion in 2017. This growth rate is several folds that of newly diagnosed cancer cases and therefore estimated to reach up to $200billion by 2022. The Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda's national referral cancer center, has increased access to cancer medicines through an efficient and cost-saving procurement system. The system has achieved cost savings of more than USD 2,000,000 on a total of 37 of 42 essential cancer medicines. This has resulted in 85.8% availability superseding the WHO's 80% target. All selected products were procured from manufacturers with stringent regulatory authority approval or a proven track record of quality products.