Treatment Cost and Psychological Impact of Burkitt Lymphoma on Ghanaian Families and Caregivers.

Objective: Before June 2022, the treatment cost of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Ghana was mainly borne by the child's family or caregiver. We determined the treatment cost of BL in children and its psychological impact on parents and caregivers.

Method: This prospective observational study assessed the direct medical and nonmedical costs (US dollars [USD]) incurred during the treatment of a child with BL for 6 consecutive months using a cost diary.

Development of a checklist for the assessment of pharmacovigilance guidelines in Southern Africa: a document review.

Introduction: National regulatory systems in Southern Africa reflect various stages of maturity, and pharmacovigilance (PV) practices are not aligned. In the absence of guidance for formulating PV guidelines in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, this study aimed to create a checklist that may be used to assess the rigour of PV guidelines in this region and provide guidance for the National Medicines Regulatory Agency (NMRA) authors.

Methods: A document analysis was performed based on harmonised international guidelines ( = 22) that prescribed methods of PV regulation to identify themes and items to incorporate into a checklist.

Adherence and clinical outcomes of HIV patients switching to a fixed-dose combination regimen.

Background: The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is monitored using clinical markers such as viral load (VL) and CD4 counts. Adherence to ART has been associated with viral suppression and improved clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between adherence status with multiple-tablet regimens (MTR) and fixed-dose combination (FDC) regimens, to weight, CD4 count and VL of patients living with HIV.

Coexisting Conditions among Children and Adolescents with Cancer in a Section of the South African Private Health Sector: Perspectives from Drug Utilization Data.

Coexisting conditions are relatively common in children with cancer, however, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence of coexisting conditions in children with cancer in South Africa. This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the common coexisting conditions occurring in children and adolescents younger than 19 years undergoing cancer chemotherapy in a section of the South African private health sector. Medicine claims data from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2017 were queried to identify coexisting conditions using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes indicated on reimbursed claims.

Childhood cancers in a section of the South African private health sector: Analysis of medicines claims data.

Background: Although childhood cancers are rare, increases in incidence have been observed in recent times. There is a paucity of data on the current incidence of childhood cancers in South Africa.

Aim: This study described the epidemiology of childhood cancers in a section of the private health sector of South Africa, using medicines claims data.

Methylphenidate and atomoxetine prescribing trends in children in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, 2005-2013.

Background: There is paucity of data on methylphenidate and atomoxetine prescribing patterns in South African children.

Aim: To describe the prescribing trends of these agents in children residing in the Western Cape Province.

Setting: South African private health sector.

Surveillance of antibiotic use in the private sector in Namibia using sales and claims data.

Introduction: Antibiotics are among the most commonly used therapeutic agents for humans globally, and their use has been associated with the development of resistance. The objective of this study was to identify sources for quantifying antibiotic usage patterns and to assess such use in ambulatory patients in the private health sector of Namibia.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis of prescription claims data and sales data for the period 2008 to 2011 was conducted.

Medicine possession ratio as proxy for adherence to antiepileptic drugs: prevalence, associations, and cost implications.

Objective: To determine the adherence status to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) among epilepsy patients; to observe the association between adherence status and age, sex, active ingredient prescribed, treatment period, and number of comorbidities; and to determine the effect of nonadherence on direct medicine treatment cost of AEDs.

Methods: A retrospective study analyzing medicine claims data obtained from a South African pharmaceutical benefit management company was performed. Patients of all ages (N=19,168), who received more than one prescription for an AED, were observed from 2008 to 2013.

Prescribing patterns of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in chronic kidney disease patients in the South African private sector.

Background Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used pharmaceutical agents worldwide. NSAIDs are considered nephrotoxic and should therefore be used with caution or be avoided completely in high risk patients, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prescribing of NSAIDs in CKD patients in order to generate awareness and improve the outcome of these patients.

The impact of HIV/AIDS on compliance with antidepressant treatment in major depressive disorder: A prospective study in a South African private healthcare cohort.

Background: MDD and HIV/AIDS have a high prevalence worldwide with severe consequences for patients. In both conditions, compliance with treatment is key to successfully treat these disorders. In the current study, we examine the effect of MDD on the compliance with ADs in patients diagnosed with co-morbid HIV/AIDS and how different classes of ADs influence compliance in this group of patients.

Using pharmacoeconomic modelling to determine value-based pricing for new pharmaceuticals in malaysia.

Background: Decision analysis (DA) is commonly used to perform economic evaluations of new pharmaceuticals. Using multiples of Malaysia's per capita 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) as the threshold for economic value as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), DA was used to estimate a price per dose for bevacizumab, a drug that provides a 1.4-month survival benefit in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

The development of a value based pricing index for new drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Worldwide, prices for cancer drugs have been under downward pressure where several governments have mandated price cuts of branded products. A better alternative to government mandated price cuts would be to estimate a final price based on drug performance, cost effectiveness and a country's ability to pay. We developed a global pricing index for new cancer drugs in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that encompasses all of these attributes.

A pharmacoeconomic modeling approach to estimate a value-based price for new oncology drugs in Europe.

Background: Several European governments have recently mandated price cuts in drugs to reduce health care spending. However, such measures without supportive evidence may compromise patient care because manufacturers may withdraw current products or not launch new agents. A value-based pricing scheme may be a better approach for determining a fair drug price and may be a medium for negotiations between the key stakeholders.

Improving patient access to cancer drugs in India: Using economic modeling to estimate a more affordable drug cost based on measures of societal value.

Background: Using multiples of India's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as the threshold for economic value as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), decision analysis modeling was used to estimate a more affordable monthly cost in India for a hypothetical new cancer drug that provides a 3-month survival benefit to Indian patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: A decision model was developed to simulate progression-free and overall survival in mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy with and without the new drug. Costs for chemotherapy and side-effects management were obtained from both public and private hospitals in India.

Advances in cancer therapeutics and patient access to new drugs.

Globally, there are approximately 7.4 million cancer deaths annually, approximately 13% of deaths from all causes. Cancer is a disease of older people and, as the population ages over the next 10-20 years, we can expect an increase in the cancer incidence.

The application of pharmacoeconomic modelling to estimate a value-based price for new cancer drugs.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Value-based pricing has recently been discussed by international bodies as a means to estimate a drug price that is linked to the benefits it offers patients and society. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended using three times a country's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as the threshold for economic value. Using the WHO criteria, pharmacoeconomic modelling was used to illustrate the application of value-based price towards bevacizumab, a relatively new drug that provides a 1.