KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 25): Local health authorities should review their current approach in evaluating new or innovative drugs by focusing on value that encompasses better patient outcome and quality of life, said the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA).

In a statement today, the association noted over the past years, challenges to Malaysia’s health system have intensified, with unprecedented pressures linked to ageing population, change in disease burden and rising costs.

"A recent study showed that up to 45% of hospital patients in Malaysia face financial catastrophe, as a result of high direct out-of-pocket payments. Against this backdrop, all stakeholders concur that a new evaluation of the situation is essential, if Malaysia wants to meet its 2020 objectives of sustainable and equitable access to quality care, both at the societal and individual levels," it said. 

PhAMA president John McKendry stressed discussions about costs are important.

"No patient should have to worry about whether they can afford the care they need. At the same time, it is important to look at costs across the health care system and not just the share going toward life changing medicines,” he said.

PhAMA has released a white paper on “Value Pricing for Improved Patient Access in Malaysia”, which highlights areas for improvement in the current assessment models in Malaysia, so that the right drug gets to the right patient at the right time.

It recommends a value-based pricing (VBP) model as a viable new approach towards a patient-centered, value-driven and more sustainable health care system, said the association.

In particular, the white paper outlines five principles PhAMA believes are essential to the success of the government’s plan to prioritise value improvement in health care delivery and for future evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of new medicines.

Some of the principles are to promote ‘equity, efficiency and effectiveness’ in the context of health care decision-making and health outcome measurements in Malaysia and to review the threshold approach currently being applied in Malaysia.

"(The government should also) consider new frameworks like multi-criteria decision analysis that could offer an improvement on the use of simple thresholds and its relevance to Malaysia, and to implement managed entry agreements and patient assistance programmes," it said.
 
Another principle is to drive more multi-level engagement, government-innovative industry collaboration and leadership.
 
McKendry said moving forward, PhAMA will engage with other stakeholders, including patients, providers, payers and researchers, to incorporate and transfer core principles presented in the white paper into practical solutions for patients in Malaysia.