Bridging the Gap: Addressing Medication Availability Disparities for COPD in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (American Thoracic Society [ATS] webinar 2024)

Description

Learning Goals: To critically analyze and propose effective strategies to overcome market failures that hinder access to essential medications and vaccines in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This session aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the economic, regulatory, and logistical challenges faced by LMICs in securing medication and vaccines access. It will also explore innovative solutions, including policy reforms, international collaborations, and public-private partnerships, to enhance medication availability and affordability in these regions.


Session program:

Session Chair (s):
David Lewinsohn, MD, PhD, ATSF
Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine
Director OHSU Center for Global Child Health Research, Department of Pediatrics
Director OHSU MSTP Program
Adjunct Member, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine University of Cape Town
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR, USA


William Checkley, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, International Health and Biostatistics
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Director, Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training
Director, Fogarty Global Health Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD, USA


Talks and Speakers:

Title: Understanding Market Failure in Vaccine Distribution: A Focus on COVID-19 and Pneumococcal Vaccines
Duration (minutes): 20 minutes
Speaker: Tania Cernuschi, Head of immunization agenda, policy and strategy at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Talk Brief Description: This talk will explore the causes and impacts of distribution challenges for these critical vaccines. It will focus on issues like supply chain disruptions, access inequity, and policy shortcomings, especially in low and middle-income countries. The session will also propose solutions for improving global vaccine access through policy reforms and international collaboration.


Title: Addressing Disparities in Tuberculosis Medication Availability in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Duration (minutes) : 20 min
Speaker: Philippe Duneton, MD, MPH, PhD, Executive Director, UNITAID

Talk Brief Description: This talk will examine the key challenges in accessing TB medications in these regions. It will highlight the factors causing these disparities, such as economic limitations and healthcare infrastructure issues, and discuss their impact on treatment and public health. The session will also explore potential solutions, including policy reforms and international initiatives, to improve medication accessibility and promote health equity.

Title: Bridging the Gap: Addressing Medication Availability Disparities for COPD in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Duration (minutes): 20 min
Speaker: Job FM van Boven PharmD, PhD, Associate Professor of Cost-Effective Drug Use at Groningen, The Netherlands

Talk Brief Description: This talk will address the challenges in accessing COPD medications in these regions. It will explore factors like healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, and supply issues, and their impact on patient health. The session will also discuss strategies for improving medication access, including policy reforms and international health initiatives.

Period	25-Jan-2024
Held at	American Thoracic Society (ATS), United States
Degree of Recognition	International