An article on ”Availability and affordability of anticancer medicines at cancer treating hospitals in Rwanda” by Clement Rurangwa, Jerome Ndayisenga, Jurdas Sezirahiga & Eric Nyirimigabo published on BMC Journal
Background
Availability and accessibility of anti-cancer medicines is the pillar of cancer management, and it is ne of the main concerns in low-income countries including Rwanda. The objective of this study was to assess the availability an affordability of anticancer medicines at cancer-treating
hospitals in Rwanda.
Methodology
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at 5 cancer-treating hospitals in Rwanda. Quantitative data were collected from stock cards and software that manage medicines and included the availability of anti-cancer medicines at the time of data collection, their stock status within the last two years, and the selling price.
Results
The study found the availability of anti-cancer medicines at 41% in public hospitals at the time of data collection, and 45% within the last two years. We found the availability of anti-cancer medicines at 45% in private hospitals at the time of data collection, and 61% within the last two years. 80% of anti-cancer medicines in private hospitals were unaffordable while 20% were affordable. The public hospital that had most of the anti-cancer medicines in the public sector provided free services to the patients, and no cost was applied to the anti-cancer medicines.
Conclusion
The availability of anti-cancer medicines in cancer-treating hospitals is low in Rwanda, and most of them are unaffordable. There is a need to design strategies that can increase the availability and affordability of anti-cancer medicines, for the patients to get recommended cancer treatment options.
Journal: BMC Health Services Research
Link to full article: Availability and affordability of anticancer medicines at cancer treating
hospitals in Rwanda
