Reliable access to essential medicines
Making life-saving blood pressure medicines available when and where patients need them at prices they can afford.
Challenge
Blood pressure control programs can struggle to maintain a consistent, affordable supply of medicines, making it hard for patients to stick to their treatment plans and leaving them at risk for heart attack and stroke.
Solution
We work with countries to adapt methods for monitoring inventory, forecasting needs, and purchasing medicines to keep blood pressure-lowering medicines stocked and lower (or eliminate) costs to patients.
Impact
Affordable, high-quality blood pressure medicines available in primary care clinics close to home make it easier for patients to control their blood pressure and stay healthy.
What is access to blood pressure medication?
High blood pressure can be conrolled with medication—but for it to work, patients must take their medicines consistently, every day, for life. When medications are unaffordable, or are not consistently available, blood pressure control drops, often with deadly consequences.
Why are blood pressure medicines out of reach for so many?
Around the world, the cost of blood pressure medicines can be surprisingly high. Prices can vary dramatically between countries, and even within regions.
Market fragmentation, inconsistent prescribing practices, and lack of dedicated funds make it difficult to purchase enough stock or forecast future demand. As a result, prices rise and drug shortages occur, often leaving patients without the medicine they need to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Medication access highlights
In Nigeria, this pilot program is making blood pressure treatment affordable for all
A self-sustaining drug revolving fund reduced costs and improved availability of key blood pressure drugs to control high blood pressure.
New analysis shows eliminating out of pocket costs for blood pressure medication saves lives
Resolve to Save Lives and partners found that removing patient copayments reduces risk of heart attack, stroke, and hospitalization
Putting life-saving blood pressure control medication within reach
Our report on strategies to improve access to medicines to treat high blood pressure in low- and middle-income countries
How we support medication access
We partner with countries to target both availability and affordability of anti-hypertensive medicines in four ways:
1. Inclusion in essential medicines lists
Including blood pressure medications on national lists opens the door for clinicians to prescribe them, states and programs to purchase them, and insurance plans to cover them.
2. Drug revolving funds
Drug revolving funds are self-sustaining financing mechanisms that begin with seed capital and use profits from medicine sales to restock supplies. At the state and national levels, they increase purchasing power, lowering costs and improving availability. We provide seed funding and technical assistance to establish new revolving funds for antihypertensives, integrate hypertension medicines into existing funds, and strengthen leadership and oversight to ensure long-term sustainability.
3. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits
Locally manufacturing hypertension medicines can reduce costs, especially in countries where importing medicines is expensive. The World Health Organization’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards ensure locally-produced medicines are top quality. We encourage GMP audits and support manufacturers to develop plans to meet the standards.
4. Advanced forecasting
Locally manufacturing hypertension medicines can reduce costs, especially in countries where importing medicines is expensive. The World Health Organization’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards ensure locally-produced medicines are top quality. We encourage GMP audits and support manufacturers to develop plans to meet the standards.
Supporting access to technology
We need good data to make life-or-death decisions about blood pressure management. Inaccurate blood pressure readings can leave patients vulnerable to heart attack and stroke.
Validated automated blood pressure devices reduce human error and make it possible to manage blood pressure at the primary care level—where more people get care. RTSL partners with hypertension control programs to use these monitors widely, ensuring accurate blood pressure measurement every time.
