Local partnership for Sybrava is a golden opportunity for Novartis to create a partnership with a difference and reimagine medicine for India and Indians.
I know you are aware, that the idea of giving support for high cost treatment with payment plans is not new. Some pharma companies have tried it earlier for critical care and speciality medicines. Though none have gone to the press with such an announcement. These plans have mostly been non-starters. Like you said for a chronic care drug the cost still remains high, even if it's divided as EMI, thereby affordability remains a challenge. For acute care or critical care medicine the time for approval and paper work to get the support has dissuaded most patients and hospitals. In my experience not more than 5% patients took the support of such a payment plan. Please note, my experience is limited to a couple of drugs.
Sadly, only local manufacturing and loss of exclusivity, read reduced cost, will certainly give significantly improved access in a country like India.
Interesting perspective Salil, but I would like to differ from your perspective a bit. There will surely be number of patients who would like to use emi option, speaking out of my field and bit personal experience
Of course there will be. The Q is should Novartis be ok with just those patients, or should they think about how they can make the scheme more relevant?
Good comprehensive insightful write up.
I know you are aware, that the idea of giving support for high cost treatment with payment plans is not new. Some pharma companies have tried it earlier for critical care and speciality medicines. Though none have gone to the press with such an announcement. These plans have mostly been non-starters. Like you said for a chronic care drug the cost still remains high, even if it's divided as EMI, thereby affordability remains a challenge. For acute care or critical care medicine the time for approval and paper work to get the support has dissuaded most patients and hospitals. In my experience not more than 5% patients took the support of such a payment plan. Please note, my experience is limited to a couple of drugs.
Sadly, only local manufacturing and loss of exclusivity, read reduced cost, will certainly give significantly improved access in a country like India.
Interesting perspective Salil, but I would like to differ from your perspective a bit. There will surely be number of patients who would like to use emi option, speaking out of my field and bit personal experience
Of course there will be. The Q is should Novartis be ok with just those patients, or should they think about how they can make the scheme more relevant?