Pathways to ensure universal and affordable access to hepatitis C treatment

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Pathways to ensure universal and affordable access to hepatitis C treatment 

Caitlin H. Douglass, Alisa Pedrana, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Ellen F. M. ‘t Hoen, Radi Hammad, Ricardo Baptista Leite, Andrew Hill and Margaret Hellard
BMC Medicine201816:175
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1162-z

Received: 27 February 2018Accepted: 29 August 2018Published: 9 October 2018

History records very few opportunities to eliminate a chronic infection. In the DAA era, eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat is possible, yet it can only be achieved with affordable access to DAAs worldwide. Case studies of Australia, Portugal and Egypt demonstrate that comprehensive public health-based viral hepatitis plans facilitate negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. Shifting from individual-focused hepatitis C treatment to elimination requires strong political will and advocacy. If price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies do not produce reasonable prices for DAAs, governments can utilise flexibilities in patent law to ensure access to low-priced generic sources.

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Abstract

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have dramatically changed the landscape of hepatitis C treatment and prevention. The World Health Organization has called for the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. However, the discrepancy in DAA prices across low-, middle- and high-income countries is considerable, ranging from less than US$ 100 to approximately US$ 40,000 per course, thus representing a major barrier for the scale-up of treatment and elimination. This article describes DAA pricing and pathways to accessing affordable treatment, providing case studies from Australia, Egypt and Portugal. Pathways to accessing DAAs include developing comprehensive viral hepatitis plans to facilitate price negotiations, voluntary and compulsory licenses, patent opposition, joint procurement, and personal importation schemes. While multiple factors influence the price of DAAs, a key driver is a country’s capacity and willingness to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. If negotiations do not lead to a reasonable price, governments have the option to utilise flexibilities outlined in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Affordable access to DAAs is underpinned by collaboration between government, civil society, global organisations and pharmaceutical companies to ensure that all patients can access treatment. Promoting these pathways is critical for influencing policy, improving access to affordable DAAs and achieving hepatitis C elimination.

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https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1162-z

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Link to a collection of research articles addressing the high cost of HCV medications, insurance restrictions; private insurers/Medicaid and availability of generic versions/India, Egypt and other lower-income countries, or through online "buyers clubs"