Ireland based Axios International recently delivered key insights on enabling access to innovative medication for cancer patients at its inaugural fireside chat, Thailand’s fight against cancer: Redefining the boundaries of treatment access.

Speaking at the event, Roshel Jayasundera, Director of Global Consulting at Axios International, emphasized the importance of public and private partnerships in sustainably enabling access to treatment for cancer patients. “The Universal Health Coverage scheme in Thailand has alleviated the financial burden on its citizens by enabling access to essential healthcare needs. However, for patients who require highly specialized and expensive medication to manage their conditions, the barriers to afford and access treatment are higher and become prominent deterrents in the patient journey for those who need to balance other financial priorities,” said Jayasundera. “Lowering these barriers involves layers of change, but this is exactly where a collaborative approach between public and private healthcare stakeholders will be able to improve long-term sustainability and medical outcomes for these patients.”

Despite its global prevalence, 70 % of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the importance of timely access to both diagnosis and treatment of the disease. In line with this year’s World Cancer Day theme of “I Can and I Will”, it is imperative for healthcare players to reaffirm their commitment to reducing the number of premature deaths from cancer through collective action.

Since 2008, Axios International has worked closely with healthcare stakeholders in Thailand to develop innovative strategies to improve patient access for chronic diseases such as cancer. Having spearheaded the design of a market access strategy that lowered patient costs for medication without reducing price, Axios International devises Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) that empower patients with sustainable and customized access solutions to the treatment necessary to improve their quality of living in the long run. 

With decades of experience and market know-how, Axios International recognises and overcomes the prominent barriers to treatment access for cancer. Using its proprietary Patient Financial Eligibility Tool (PFET), the company is able to achieve a deep understanding of a patient’s ability to pay defined by the three key factors of wealth, assets and standard of living (SoL), in turn informing strategies that allow patients to pay only what they can afford to access and adhere to treatment for maximized medical benefits. 

To date, Axios International has reached over 8,000 patients in Thailand through 40 PAPs across various therapeutic areas, empowering them to receive medical treatment via financially viable means. As the company continues to achieve sustainable access results in the market, it plans to broaden access opportunities in the next five years by reaching patients outside of hospitals.