scholarly journals Analysis of the Gap in PCR Monitoring Availability for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in 60 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Rowley ◽  
Patricia Garcia-Gonzalez ◽  
Jerald P Radich ◽  
Irina Usherenko ◽  
Joseph B Babigumira

Abstract Purpose: To estimate the resource gap in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) monitoring for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We developed a model of demand and supply of PCR monitoring of CML patients in 60 LMICs. PCR testing was assumed to use Cepheid’s GeneXpert® IV system. We included costs of GeneXpert® instruments, uninterrupted power supplies, warranties, calibration kits, test cartridges, and shipping. We calculated the country-specific monetary gap in PCR monitoring, stratified by country priority defined as the availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) through The Max Foundation initiatives. Results: The five-year gap in PCR monitoring was $29.1 million across all countries, 22% ($6.4 million) in countries with all five TKIs available, 20% ($5.7 million) in countries with four TKIs available, 50% ($14.5 million) in countries with three TKIs available, 8% ($2.2 million) in countries with two TKIs available, and 1% ($0.3 million) in countries with one TKI available. The gap was highest in South Asia (52%; $15.1 million) and lowest in Latin America (6%; $1.9 million). Excluding labor costs, the bulk of the resource needs (86%; $25.2 million) were for procurement of BCR-ABL cartridges. Conclusion: Removing the five-year gap in PCR monitoring capacity for CML in LMICs will require the mobilization of significant resources and will likely lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced treatment costs through optimization of treatment, discontinuation of therapy in appropriate patients, and facilitation of clinical research. Development of streamlined monitoring guidelines for resource-limited countries should be considered.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Rowley ◽  
Patricia Garcia-Gonzalez ◽  
Jerald P Radich ◽  
Irina Usherenko ◽  
Joseph B Babigumira

Abstract Purpose: To estimate the resource gap in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) monitoring for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We developed a model of demand and supply of PCR monitoring of CML patients in 60 LMICs. PCR testing was assumed to use Cepheid’s GeneXpert® IV system. We included costs of GeneXpert® instruments, uninterrupted power supplies, warranties, calibration kits, test cartridges, and shipping. We calculated the country-specific monetary gap in PCR monitoring, stratified by country priority defined as the availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) through The Max Foundation initiatives. Results: The five-year gap in PCR monitoring was $29.1 million across all countries, 22% ($6.4 million) in countries with all five TKIs available, 20% ($5.7 million) in countries with four TKIs available, 50% ($14.5 million) in countries with three TKIs available, 8% ($2.2 million) in countries with two TKIs available, and 1% ($0.3 million) in countries with one TKI available. The gap was highest in South Asia (52%; $15.1 million) and lowest in Latin America (6%; $1.9 million). Excluding labor costs, the bulk of the resource needs (86%; $25.2 million) were for procurement of BCR-ABL cartridges. Conclusion: Removing the five-year gap in PCR monitoring capacity for CML in LMICs will require the mobilization of significant resources and will likely lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced treatment costs through optimization of treatment, discontinuation of therapy in appropriate patients, and facilitation of clinical research. Development of streamlined monitoring guidelines for resource-limited countries should be considered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Rowley ◽  
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez ◽  
Jerald P. Radich ◽  
Ann Kim Novakowski ◽  
Irina Usherenko ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To estimate the resource gap in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) monitoring for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We developed a model of demand and supply of PCR monitoring of CML patients in 60 LMICs. PCR testing was assumed to use Cepheid’s GeneXpert® IV system. We included costs of GeneXpert® instruments, uninterrupted power supplies, warranties, calibration kits, test cartridges, and shipping. We calculated the country-specific monetary gap in PCR monitoring, stratified by country priority defined as the availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) through The Max Foundation initiatives. Results The 5-year gap in PCR monitoring was $29.1 million across all countries, 22% ($6.4 million) in countries with all five TKIs available, 20% ($5.7 million) in countries with four TKIs available, 50% ($14.5 million) in countries with three TKIs available, 8% ($2.2 million) in countries with two TKIs available, and 1% ($0.3 million) in countries with one TKI available. The gap was highest in South Asia (52%; $15.1 million) and lowest in Latin America (6%; $1.9 million). Excluding labor costs, the bulk of the resource needs (86%; $25.2 million) were for procurement of BCR-ABL cartridges. Conclusion Removing the 5-year gap in PCR monitoring capacity for CML in LMICs will require the mobilization of significant resources and will likely lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced treatment costs through optimization of treatment, discontinuation of therapy in appropriate patients, and facilitation of clinical research. Development of streamlined monitoring guidelines for resource-limited countries should be considered.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Rowley ◽  
Patricia Garcia-Gonzalez ◽  
Jerald P Radich ◽  
Irina Usherenko ◽  
Joseph B Babigumira

Abstract Purpose: To estimate the resource gap in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) monitoring for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We developed a model of demand and supply of PCR monitoring of CML patients in 60 LMICs. PCR testing was assumed to use Cepheid’s GeneXpert® IV system. We included costs of GeneXpert® instruments, uninterrupted power supplies, warranties, calibration kits, test cartridges, and shipping. We calculated the country-specific monetary gap in PCR monitoring, stratified by country priority defined as the availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) through The Max Foundation initiatives. Results: The five-year gap in PCR monitoring was $29.1 million across all countries, 22% ($6.4 million) in countries with all five TKIs available, 20% ($5.7 million) in countries with four TKIs available, 50% ($14.5 million) in countries with three TKIs available, 8% ($2.2 million) in countries with two TKIs available, and 1% ($0.3 million) in countries with one TKI available. The gap was highest in South Asia (52%; $15.1 million) and lowest in Latin America (6%; $1.9 million). Excluding labor costs, the bulk of the resource needs (86%; $25.2 million) were for procurement of BCR-ABL cartridges. Conclusion: Removing the five-year gap in PCR monitoring capacity for CML in LMICs will require the mobilization of significant resources and will likely lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced treatment costs through optimization of treatment, discontinuation of therapy in appropriate patients, and facilitation of clinical research. Development of streamlined monitoring guidelines for resource-limited countries should be considered.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neo Tapela ◽  
Ignace Nzayisenga ◽  
Roshan Sethi ◽  
Jean Bosco Bigirimana ◽  
Hamissy Habineza ◽  
...  

Purpose The burden of cancer is rising in low- and middle-income countries, yet cancer treatment requires resources that are often not available in these settings. Although management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been described in low- and middle-income countries, few programs involve patients treated in rural settings. We describe characteristics and early outcomes of patients treated for CML at rural district hospitals in Rwanda. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients with confirmed BCR-ABL–positive CML who were enrolled between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2014. Types of data included patient demographics, diagnostic work up, treatment, clinical examination, laboratory testing, and death. Results Forty-three patients were included, with a maximum follow-up of 58 months. Of 31 patients who were imatinib-naïve at enrollment, 54.8% were men and the median age at diagnosis was 36.9 years (interquartile range: 29-42 years). Approximately two-thirds of patients (67.7%) were on the national public insurance scheme. The imatinib dose was reduced for 16 patients and discontinued for five. Thirty-two of the 43 patients continued to have normal blood counts at last follow-up. Four patients have died and four are lost to follow-up. Conclusion Our experience indicates that CML can be effectively managed in a resource-constrained rural setting, despite limited availability of on-site diagnostic resources or specialty oncology personnel. The importance of model public-private partnerships as a strategy to bring high-cost, life-saving treatment to people who do not have the ability to pay is also highlighted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e2021004
Author(s):  
Naveen Gupta ◽  
Manoranjan Mahapatra ◽  
Tulika Seth ◽  
Seema Tyagi ◽  
Sudha Sazawal ◽  
...  

Introduction: Outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have vastly improved after the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, patients in low and middle income countries face many challenges due to social and financial barriers. Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of understanding socio-economic hindrances and knowledge-attitudes-practices of patients of chronic phase CML who are taking imatinib. Materials and Methods: Patients of chronic phase CML, aged 15 and above, taking imatinib for 6 months or more were included in the study. A questionnaire (in Hindi language) was administered, enquiring about perceptions of nature of disease and its treatment, how imatinib was obtained, drug-taking behaviour, economic and social burden of the treatment. Results: Four hundred patients were recruited (median age 37 years, median duration on imatinib 63 months). Patients hailed from 16 different Indian states and 29.75% patients had to travel more than 500 kilometres for their hospital visit. Scheduled visits were missed by 14.75%. One third of the patients were unaware of the lifelong duration of treatment and 41.75% were unaware of the risks of discontinuing treatment. Treatment was financed by three different means- 61.75% received imatinib free of cost via the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP), 14.25% had treatment costs reimbursed by their employer, and 24% bore the cost of treatment themselves. Patients felt financially burdened due to cost of drugs (self-paying patients), cost of investigations, expenditure of the commute and stay for hospital visit, and loss of working days due to hospital visits. Conclusion: Cost of treatment, lack of widespread availability of hematology services and poor patient awareness are significant barriers to optimum treatment of CML in low and middle income countries.


Author(s):  
Kirtika Patel ◽  
R. Matthew Strother ◽  
Francis Ndiangui ◽  
David Chumba ◽  
William Jacobson ◽  
...  

Background: Cancer is becoming a major cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Unlike infectious disease, malignancy and other chronic conditions require significant supportive infrastructure for diagnostics, staging and treatment. In addition to morphologic diagnosis, diagnostic pathways in oncology frequently require immunohistochemistry (IHC) for confirmation. We present the experience of a tertiary-care hospital serving rural western Kenya, which developed and validated an IHC laboratory in support of a growing cancer care service.Objectives, methods and outcomes: Over the past decade, in an academic North-South collaboration, cancer services were developed for the catchment area of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in western Kenya. A major hurdle to treatment of cancer in a resource-limited setting has been the lack of adequate diagnostic services. Building upon the foundations of a histology laboratory, strategic investment and training were used to develop IHC services. Key elements of success in this endeavour included: translation of resource-rich practices to are source-limited setting, such as using manual, small-batch IHC instead of disposable- and maintenance-intensive automated machinery, engagement of outside expertise to develop reagent-efficient protocols and supporting all levels of staff to meet the requirements of an external quality assurance programme.Conclusion: Development of low- and middle-income country models of services, such as the IHC laboratory presented in this paper, is critical for the infrastructure in resource-limited settings to address the growing cancer burden. We provide a low-cost model that effectively develops these necessary services in a challenging laboratory environment.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mustafa Diab ◽  
Armand Zimmerman ◽  
Siddharth Dixit ◽  
Wenhui Mao ◽  
Ipchita Bharali ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ashok J. Tamhankar ◽  
Ramesh Nachimuthu ◽  
Ravikant Singh ◽  
Jyoti Harindran ◽  
Gautam Kumar Meghwanshi ◽  
...  

Antibiotic resistance has reached alarming proportions globally, prompting the World Health Organization to advise nations to take up antibiotic awareness campaigns. Several campaigns have been taken up worldwide, mostly by governments. The government of India asked manufacturers to append a ‘redline’ to packages of antibiotics as identification marks and conducted a campaign to inform the general public about it and appropriate antibiotic use. We investigated whether an antibiotic resistance awareness campaign could be organized voluntarily in India and determined the characteristics of the voluntarily organized campaign by administering a questionnaire to the coordinators, who participated in organizing the voluntary campaign India. The campaign characteristics were: multiple electro–physical pedagogical and participatory techniques were used, 49 physical events were organized in various parts of India that included lectures, posters, booklet/pamphlet distribution, audio and video messages, competitions, and mass contact rallies along with broadcast of messages in 11 local languages using community radio stations (CRS) spread all over India. The median values for campaign events were: expenditure—3000 Indian Rupees/day (US$~47), time for planning—1 day, program spread—4 days, program time—4 h, direct and indirect reach of the message—respectively 250 and 500 persons/event. A 2 min play entitled ‘Take antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor’ was broadcast 10 times/day for 5 days on CRS with listener reach of ~5 million persons. More than 85%ofcoordinators thought that the campaign created adequate awareness about appropriate antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. The voluntary campaign has implications for resource limited settings/low and middle income countries.


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