Financing Strategies to Facilitate Access to High-Cost Anticancer Drugs: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Each country manages access to anticancer drugs differently due to variations in the structure and financing of the health system, but a summary of the various strategies used is absent. This study aimed to review and summarize financing strategies implemented across countries to facilitate access to high-cost anticancer drugs. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of articles referenced in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science through May 12, 2021. Articles published in the English language from 2000 that describe strategies implemented in different countries to facilitate access to high-cost anticancer drugs were included. Letters, news articles, and proposed strategies were excluded. Quality assessment was not performed as we aimed to summarize the strategies. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis. A review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42018068616). Results: The review included 204 studies from 176 countries. Three themes of financing strategies were identified: 1) Basic pharmaceutical reimbursement and pricing policies, 2) Alternative funding strategies specific to high-cost drugs, and 3) Financial assistance for individual patients. Access in most countries depends mainly on basic pharmaceutical reimbursement policies (165 of 176 countries). Apart from that, high-income countries tended to use funding strategies targeting high-cost drugs (72% of high-income countries vs 0-24% of the rest), such as Managed Entry Agreements or dedicated funds for high-cost drugs. In contrast, lower-income countries tended to implement financial assistance programs for cancer patients as a tool to increase access (32% of high-income countries vs 62-79% of the rest). Conclusion: Many countries have implemented a combination of strategies to increase access to high-cost anticancer drugs. Most low- and middle-income countries utilized placement of anticancer drugs on a national list of essential medicines and patient assistance programs to facilitate access, while many high-income countries implemented a broader range of strategies.

Pharmacy Assistance Programs for Oral Anticancer Drugs: A Narrative Review

“…33 PAP's growing role in paying for cancer therapeutics is controversial. 20,34 Although they can provide access to lifeprolonging therapies that may otherwise be cost-prohibitive for patients, 35 the existence of PAPs provides little incentive for payors to provide robust coverage of specialty drugs or for manufacturers to lower drug prices. 16 In fact, payors may be incentivized to raise premiums if covered patients who use PAPs meet their deductibles/OOP maximums earlier in the year and tip over to 100% coverage by the plan.…”