Achieving equitable access to healthcare innovation in the complex Southeast Asian Nations region

This update provides key takeaways from one of the expert sessions at the Zuellig Pharma Summit 2022, ‘Building a Healthier Asia: empowering more equitable access to healthcare innovation’. Zuellig Pharma and Knowledge Partner, PRMA Consulting, are pleased to share this summary from the post-summit report to contribute to raising awareness and progressing the conversation on enhancing access to healthcare in the Asia-Pacific region.

Achieving access to healthcare innovation for all in the Southeast Asian Nations region

During this session, expert speakers provided a deep dive into the Philippines, exploring what it means for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve access to healthcare innovation for all, and learnings for other countries to address healthcare infrastructure challenges.

Speakers:

Key takeaways:

• In the Philippines, there is a disparity in access to healthcare services for patients living in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in the country. To provide quality healthcare services for all Filipinos, the Philippines has introduced rational reallocation of healthcare infrastructure and equipment aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan, where infrastructure requirements to build healthcare provider networks are calculated and the role of the private sector is included. To promote equity, a higher allocation of financing and human resources is assigned to underserved than to well‑served areas.
  
  
• Additionally, under the Department of Health-Human Resources for Health Masterplan, investments in human resources are necessary to enable access to equitable primary care.
  
  
• In most countries where government funding may be more limited by resource constraints, including the Philippines, there are opportunities for public partnerships with private payers, patient groups, and pharma companies, as well as other stakeholders, to make innovative treatments more accessible, and for addressing supply chain barriers that can reduce access due to cost, infrastructure, or even regulatory restrictions.
  
  
• Some companies, especially smaller biotechnology firms from outside the region, may not have the capacity to reach markets and patients in Asia without partners. Similarly, smaller markets may need to be open to more creative approaches to becoming attractive destinations for companies to invest in patient access.
  
  
• Equitable distribution of innovative treatments and access to them is critical to strengthen healthcare system resilience and requires the public sector and private sector to collaboratively leverage one another’s strengths to offer a unified response to crises or threats.

Read the full report to explore the barriers and solutions to equitable access in the Asia‑Pacific region

A full synopsis from the Zuellig Summit is available to download now. This report summarizes the key takeaways from all of the expert sessions:

• Best care anywhere: Achieving access for all to healthcare innovation in a complex region
  
  
• Partnering for health: Building strategic partnerships to achieve the goals for access and equity
  
  
• Trust your doctor? Securing trust in the healthcare system: how does this help drive access and equity?
  
  
• Health in your pocket: Leveraging digital solutions to empower community-centered and patient-centric care models
  
  
• The last mile to healthcare: Reimagining strategic supply chains to ensure equitable supply across and within markets
  
  
• Moving from “Wealth = Health” to “Health = Wealth”: Building value-based healthcare financing models that deliver equitable access

Supporting your Policy, Access, Value, and Evidence needs in the Asia-Pacific region

The Asia-Pacific region is characterized by its dynamic nature and rapidly evolving markets. These are critical to the future growth plans of our pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients, and we are leading many ground-breaking market access projects in the region.

PRMA Consulting, part of Fishawack Health, will help you bring out the best in your asset, using our extensive market access and disease area experience. Get in touch for a confidential conversation about your policy, access, value, and evidence needs.