Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis
Background: In India, 50–65% of the population face difficulties in accessing medicines. The Health Impact Fund (HIF) is a novel proposal whereby pharmaceutical companies would be paid based on the measured global health impact of their drugs. We conducted a key stakeholder analysis to explore acces...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1434935 |
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| author | Patrick McMullan Vamadevan S. Ajay Ravi Srinivas Sandeep Bhalla Dorairaj Prabhakaran Amitava Banerjee |
| author_facet | Patrick McMullan Vamadevan S. Ajay Ravi Srinivas Sandeep Bhalla Dorairaj Prabhakaran Amitava Banerjee |
| author_sort | Patrick McMullan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In India, 50–65% of the population face difficulties in accessing medicines. The Health Impact Fund (HIF) is a novel proposal whereby pharmaceutical companies would be paid based on the measured global health impact of their drugs. We conducted a key stakeholder analysis to explore access to medicines in India, acceptability of the HIF and potential barriers and facilitators at policy level. Objectives: To conduct a stakeholder analysis of the HIF in India: to determine key stakeholder views regarding access to medicines in India; to evaluate acceptability of the HIF; and to assess potential barriers and facilitators to the HIF as a policy. Methods: In New Delhi, we conducted semi-structured interviews. There was purposive recruitment of participants with snowball sampling. Transcribed data were analysed using stakeholder analysis frameworks and directed content analysis. Results: Participation rate was 29% (14/49). 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted among stakeholders in New Delhi. All participants highlighted access to medicines as a problem in India. There were mixed views about the HIF in terms of relevance and scaleability. Stakeholders felt it should focus on diseases with limited or no market and potentially incorporate direct investment in research. Conclusions: First, access to medicines is perceived to be a major problem in India by all stakeholders, but affordability is just one factor. Second, stakeholders despite considerable support for the idea of the HIF, there are major concerns about scaleability, generalisability and impact on access to medicines. Third, the HIF and other novel drug-related health policies can afford to be more radical, e.g. working outside the existing intellectual property rights regime, targeting generic as well as branded drugs, or extending to research and development. Further innovations in access to medicines must involve country-specific key stakeholders in order to increase the likelihood of their success. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:10:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2961433081bf4cfd9244b47496f191e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9716 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:10:40Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-2961433081bf4cfd9244b47496f191e22022-12-22T03:48:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-97161654-98802018-01-0111110.1080/16549716.2018.14349351434935Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysisPatrick McMullan0Vamadevan S. Ajay1Ravi Srinivas2Sandeep Bhalla3Dorairaj Prabhakaran4Amitava Banerjee5University of Birmingham Medical SchoolCentre for Chronic Disease ControlResearch and Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS)Public Health Foundation of IndiaCentre for Chronic Disease ControlUniversity of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular SciencesBackground: In India, 50–65% of the population face difficulties in accessing medicines. The Health Impact Fund (HIF) is a novel proposal whereby pharmaceutical companies would be paid based on the measured global health impact of their drugs. We conducted a key stakeholder analysis to explore access to medicines in India, acceptability of the HIF and potential barriers and facilitators at policy level. Objectives: To conduct a stakeholder analysis of the HIF in India: to determine key stakeholder views regarding access to medicines in India; to evaluate acceptability of the HIF; and to assess potential barriers and facilitators to the HIF as a policy. Methods: In New Delhi, we conducted semi-structured interviews. There was purposive recruitment of participants with snowball sampling. Transcribed data were analysed using stakeholder analysis frameworks and directed content analysis. Results: Participation rate was 29% (14/49). 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted among stakeholders in New Delhi. All participants highlighted access to medicines as a problem in India. There were mixed views about the HIF in terms of relevance and scaleability. Stakeholders felt it should focus on diseases with limited or no market and potentially incorporate direct investment in research. Conclusions: First, access to medicines is perceived to be a major problem in India by all stakeholders, but affordability is just one factor. Second, stakeholders despite considerable support for the idea of the HIF, there are major concerns about scaleability, generalisability and impact on access to medicines. Third, the HIF and other novel drug-related health policies can afford to be more radical, e.g. working outside the existing intellectual property rights regime, targeting generic as well as branded drugs, or extending to research and development. Further innovations in access to medicines must involve country-specific key stakeholders in order to increase the likelihood of their success.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1434935Qualitativestakeholder analysisaccess to medicinespolicyIndia |
| spellingShingle | Patrick McMullan Vamadevan S. Ajay Ravi Srinivas Sandeep Bhalla Dorairaj Prabhakaran Amitava Banerjee Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis Global Health Action Qualitative stakeholder analysis access to medicines policy India |
| title | Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis |
| title_full | Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis |
| title_fullStr | Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis |
| title_short | Improving access to medicines via the Health Impact Fund in India: a stakeholder analysis |
| title_sort | improving access to medicines via the health impact fund in india a stakeholder analysis |
| topic | Qualitative stakeholder analysis access to medicines policy India |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1434935 |
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