Acceptability and consumers' willingness to pay for comprehensive medication management services in Brazil

Aim: Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is a clinical service that aims to optimize the therapeutic results of patients at the individual level. Studies carried out in Brazil and in several parts of the world have found a positive impact of the service, mainly in the resolution of drug therapy problems and in improving clinical outcomes and patients' quality of life. This service is not widespread and its acceptability and willingness to pay were not defined by the population yet. Objective: This work aims to conduct a study with users of private health services to determine the acceptability and willingness to pay for CMM services. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted through face-to-face interviews, among residents over 18 years of age of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Results: For this study, 563 individuals were interviewed. Most respondents were female (55.1%), had completed high school (46.8%) and were employed (62.5%). The acceptability for the service was 93,25%, and among all respondents, 37 would not accept the service even if it was free. The amount of consumers' willingness to pay for the CMM service was estimated at $17.75 (40.00 BRL). Conclusion: The research results show that most people are willing to pay for the CMM service. This study can contribute to the decision-making regarding the implementation and pricing of the service in Brazil.

Potencialidades de ações extensionistas para a prevenção de acidentes de trânsito: Relato de experiências Projeto Educa Mais Trânsito em Marabá(PÁ)

Este é um estudo descritivo que tem como objetivo relatar a experiência vivenciada no projeto de extensão denominado “Educa Mais Trânsito”, desenvolvido por discentes e docentes da Faculdade de Saúde Coletiva, da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (Unifesspa), idealizado para realizar ações de educação em saúde, no município de Marabá (PA), frente aos muitos acidentes de trânsito na região. No Brasil, o Estado do Pará caracteriza-se como um dos de maiores ocorrência, sendo 6398 internações e 1159 óbitos apenas em 2018. Em Marabá, no sudeste do estado, registrou-se 296 acidentes e 76 óbitos apenas no período de 2018. Primeiramente, foram realizadas rodas de conversas envolvendo acadêmicos do curso de Bacharelado em Saúde Coletiva com profissionais que atuam em órgãos ligados a segurança e assistência no trânsito da região. Posteriormente, houve a realização de palestras educativas, peças teatrais (público infantil e jovens), jogos educativos em quatro escolas do município, bem como a realização do I Simpósio de Educação no Trânsito de Marabá. Durante as atividades, observou-se a importância das práticas educativas que tinham em vista a conscientização, sensibilização e mobilização não só de estudantes da região mas, também, do envolvimento deste público com órgãos governamentais no que tange a regulamentação dos eventos do trânsito do município. Neste contexto, reforça-se a importância da parceria universidade e comunidade na formação de cidadãos conhecedores dos problemas de sua localidade com a sensibilização sobre os sérios problemas de saúde pública como os acidentes de trânsito através de projetos extensionistas.

Perfil e custos das internações por dengue no Sudeste do Pará na perspectiva do SUS (2000-2015)

Justificativa e objetivos: Considerando as poucas evidências associadas às internações por dengue, seus gastos públicos no Sudeste do Pará e sua relevância para a saúde pública no Brasil, este estudo tem como objetivo demonstrar os registros de internações e gastos associados a esta arbovirose entre 2000 e 2015 a partir da perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva que buscou avaliar os registros e gastos (USD) de internação por dengue (código SUS: 74500457, 74300440, 0303010010) e dengue grave (código SUS: 74300628, 74500627, 0303010029), bem como seus óbitos associados (CID: A90 e A91), respectivamente, do SIH/SUS e SIM/SUS de 2000 a 2015 para todos os 39 municípios do sudeste paraense. Resultados: Um total de 1.206 óbitos, 22.860 indivíduos com dengue e 306 com dengue grave foram atendidos no SUS entre 2000 e 2015, representando 23.166 internações (23.613: dengue e 313: dengue grave), nas quais Bom Jesus do Tocantins e Goianésia do O Pará representa os municípios com maior número de internações associadas à dengue. Conclusão: É possível verificar a relevância da continuidade dos esforços de combate e combate à dengue no sudeste paraense. Reforça a necessidade da realização de estudos que contribuam para um melhor entendimento da distribuição das internações e óbitos nos diferentes municípios do estado do Pará, bem como reflexões sobre o cenário epidemiológico e econômico para a implementação de um processo decisório racional e eficiente. Fazendo processo.

Willingness to pay for a hypothetical malaria vaccine in Brazil: a cross-sectional study and the implications

Aim: Malaria is an infection caused by protozoa of genus Plasmodium, considered the one associated with increasingly large outbreaks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with residents in the northern region of Brazil on the willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine against malaria (effective protection of 80%). Results: Of 616 people interviewed, most interviewees were female (61%) and were employed (97%). The median individual maximum WTP for a hypothetical malaria vaccine was US$11.90 (BRL 50). Conclusion: The northern region of Brazil is one of the largest markets for a malaria vaccine due to its epidemiological relevance. Consequently, economic studies will be important to assist in the assessment of the potential price and value of new vaccines.

Profile of hospitalization and death records associated to dengue and severe dengue in Minas Gerais between 2000 and 2015 from the Brazilian Public Health System perspective

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Dengue is one of the most important arboviruses and public health problem associated with increasingly large outbreaks, especially in tropical countries such as Brazil. The state of Minas Gerais, in particular, has had high numbers of cases of this infection in recent years.

METHODS

Our study evaluated the epidemiological impact of dengue fever in the state of Minas Gerais from the National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) perspective between 2000 to 2015 using the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN, notification cases) and Hospital Information System (SIH)/SUS (hospitalization registers) databases.

RESULTS

The SUS database recorded 34,996 reports of dengue (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]: A90) as well as 1984 verified cases of severe dengue (ICD-A91). These hospitalizations for dengue and cases of severe dengue generally affected individuals aged 15-24 (17.74%) and 5-14 (20.86%) years, respectively. The epidemiological burden of dengue was substantial in Minas Gerais state, with the highest number of notifications nationally in 2013.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

From retrospective data associated with dengue records, our study sought to better highlight the locations with the largest number of dengue cases in the Minas Gerais state, and contribute to direct educational and surveillance actions of these regions applied to this infection.

Evidence-based public policy making for medicines across countries: findings and implications for the future

Aim: Global expenditure on medicines is rising up to 6% per year driven by increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and new premium priced medicines for cancer, orphan diseases and other complex areas. This is difficult to sustain without reforms. Methods: Extensive narrative review of published papers and contextualizing the findings to provide future guidance. Results: New models are being introduced to improve the managed entry of new medicines including managed entry agreements, fair pricing approaches and monitoring prescribing against agreed guidance. Multiple measures have also successfully been introduced to improve the prescribing of established medicines. This includes encouraging greater prescribing of generics and biosimilars versus originators and patented medicines in a class to conserve resources without compromising care. In addition, reducing inappropriate antibiotic utilization. Typically, multiple measures are the most effective. Conclusion: Multiple measures will be needed to attain and retain universal healthcare.

The Current Situation Regarding Long-Acting Insulin Analogues Including Biosimilars Among African, Asian, European, and South American Countries; Findings and Implications for the Future

Background: Diabetes mellitus rates continue to rise, which coupled with increasing costs of associated complications has appreciably increased global expenditure in recent years. The risk of complications are enhanced by poor glycaemic control including hypoglycaemia. Long-acting insulin analogues were developed to reduce hypoglycaemia and improve adherence. Their considerably higher costs though have impacted their funding and use. Biosimilars can help reduce medicine costs. However, their introduction has been affected by a number of factors. These include the originator company dropping its price as well as promoting patented higher strength 300 IU/ml insulin glargine. There can also be concerns with different devices between the manufacturers. Objective: To assess current utilisation rates for insulins, especially long-acting insulin analogues, and the rationale for patterns seen, across multiple countries to inform strategies to enhance future utilisation of long-acting insulin analogue biosimilars to benefit all key stakeholders. Our approach: Multiple approaches including assessing the utilisation, expenditure and prices of insulins, including biosimilar insulin glargine, across multiple continents and countries. Results: There was considerable variation in the use of long-acting insulin analogues as a percentage of all insulins prescribed and dispensed across countries and continents. This ranged from limited use of long-acting insulin analogues among African countries compared to routine funding and use across Europe in view of their perceived benefits. Increasing use was also seen among Asian countries including Bangladesh and India for similar reasons. However, concerns with costs and value limited their use across Africa, Brazil and Pakistan. There was though limited use of biosimilar insulin glargine 100 IU/ml compared with other recent biosimilars especially among European countries and Korea. This was principally driven by small price differences in reality between the originator and biosimilars coupled with increasing use of the patented 300 IU/ml formulation. A number of activities were identified to enhance future biosimilar use. These included only reimbursing biosimilar long-acting insulin analogues, introducing prescribing targets and increasing competition among manufacturers including stimulating local production. Conclusions: There are concerns with the availability and use of insulin glargine biosimilars despite lower costs. This can be addressed by multiple activities.

Strategies to Improve Antimicrobial Utilization with a Special Focus on Developing Countries

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a high priority across countries as it increases morbidity, mortality and costs. Concerns with AMR have resulted in multiple initiatives internationally, nationally and regionally to enhance appropriate antibiotic utilization across sectors to reduce AMR, with the overuse of antibiotics exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Effectively tackling AMR is crucial for all countries. Principally a narrative review of ongoing activities across sectors was undertaken to improve antimicrobial use and address issues with vaccines including COVID-19. Point prevalence surveys have been successful in hospitals to identify areas for quality improvement programs, principally centering on antimicrobial stewardship programs. These include reducing prolonged antibiotic use to prevent surgical site infections. Multiple activities centering on education have been successful in reducing inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials in ambulatory care for essentially viral infections such as acute respiratory infections. It is imperative to develop new quality indicators for ambulatory care given current concerns, and instigate programs with clear public health messaging to reduce misinformation, essential for pandemics. Regular access to effective treatments is needed to reduce resistance to treatments for HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Key stakeholder groups can instigate multiple initiatives to reduce AMR. These need to be followed up.

Consumer willingness to pay for a hypothetical Chagas disease vaccine in Brazil: a cross-sectional study and the implications

Aim: Chagas disease is a serious public health problem, endemic in 21 countries in Latin America. A future vaccine can contribute to decreasing the number of cases and its complications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with residents of the northern region of Brazil, on the willingness to pay for a hypothetical vaccine against Chagas disease (effective protection of 80%). Results: We interviewed 619 individuals and seven were excluded from the analysis and the value of willingness to pay was US$23.77 (100.00 BRL). Conclusion: The Northern region of Brazil is one of the largest markets for this vaccine, due to its epidemiological relevance, so economic studies with this vaccine will be important to assist in the assessment of technologies.