BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Novartis (NVS) said that Rwanda is the third country to sign a memorandum of understanding with Novartis Access after Kenya and Ethiopia. This agreement contributes to the strategy of the Rwandan government to increase investment in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases or NCDs. First Novartis Access product deliveries are expected in early 2017.
Novartis Access is a portfolio of 15 on- and off-patent medicines against key chronic diseases, which is offered to governments and public-sector customers at a price of US$1 per treatment per month.
Since the program's launch in September 2015, more than 100,000 monthly treatments have been delivered to Kenya, Ethiopia and Lebanon.
Capacity-building activities to screen and diagnose people for diabetes and hypertension have started in Kenya, and discussions are ongoing to introduce the program in more than 10 countries across three continents. Preparing the ground for future country roll-outs, 312 products have been submitted to health authorities for regulatory approval in 19 countries.
Managing NCDs is particularly challenging in lower-income countries as they are faced with the dual disease burden of infectious and chronic diseases.. Twenty- eight million people die every year from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancers in these countries, representing nearly 75% of deaths from NCDs globally.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX