TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to accessing multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies in the Middle East and North Africa region
T2 - A regional survey-based study
AU - Zeineddine, Maya
AU - Al-Hajje, Amal
AU - Salameh, Pascale
AU - Helme, Anne
AU - Thor, Michael Gunnar
AU - Boumediene, Farid
AU - Yamout, Bassem
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) management varies markedly between different countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based on the availability and accessibility of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Objective: To evaluate the accessibility to DMTs in each MENA country, identify barriers to treatment and make recommendations for improved access to DMTs across the region. Methods: This is a descriptive, survey-based study whereby we extracted data collected, between October 2019 and April 2020, for countries in the MENA region by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) through their Atlas of MS survey. Results: 16 out of 19 countries in the MENA region were included in this study. Sudan and Syria did not have any originator DMTs approved. Interferons were the most widely low-efficacy originator approved DMTs. Three countries did not have any high efficacy DMTs approved. Moreover, follow-on DMTs were approved in half (50%) of the countries. Cost of treatment was the most important barrier, reported in nearly half (47%) of the MENA countries. Conclusion: Although most MENA countries have access to DMTs, more than half of countries report problems with treatment continuation, highlighting the need for a targeted regional strategy to address the variations in access to MS treatments.
AB - Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) management varies markedly between different countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based on the availability and accessibility of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Objective: To evaluate the accessibility to DMTs in each MENA country, identify barriers to treatment and make recommendations for improved access to DMTs across the region. Methods: This is a descriptive, survey-based study whereby we extracted data collected, between October 2019 and April 2020, for countries in the MENA region by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) through their Atlas of MS survey. Results: 16 out of 19 countries in the MENA region were included in this study. Sudan and Syria did not have any originator DMTs approved. Interferons were the most widely low-efficacy originator approved DMTs. Three countries did not have any high efficacy DMTs approved. Moreover, follow-on DMTs were approved in half (50%) of the countries. Cost of treatment was the most important barrier, reported in nearly half (47%) of the MENA countries. Conclusion: Although most MENA countries have access to DMTs, more than half of countries report problems with treatment continuation, highlighting the need for a targeted regional strategy to address the variations in access to MS treatments.
KW - Access
KW - Barriers
KW - Disease-modifying therapies
KW - MENA
KW - Multiple sclerosis
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169019435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104959
DO - 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104959
M3 - Article
C2 - 37651815
AN - SCOPUS:85169019435
SN - 2211-0348
VL - 79
JO - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
JF - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
M1 - 104959
ER -