Implementing Fixed Dose Combination Medications for the Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases
Ruth Webster,
Adrianna Murphy,
Helen Bygrave,
Éimhín Ansbro,
Diederick E. Grobbee,
Pablo Perel
Affiliations
Ruth Webster
Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney; The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney
Adrianna Murphy
Centre for Global Chronic Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Helen Bygrave
Médecins Sans Frontières Access Campaign, Geneva
Éimhín Ansbro
Centre for Global Chronic Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Diederick E. Grobbee
UMC Utrecht, Utrecht
Pablo Perel
Centre for Global Chronic Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; World Heart Federation, Geneva
Highlights: Despite clinical evidence of its effectiveness in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, uptake of fixed dose combination therapy (FDCs) for CVD has been poor. A symposium was held bringing together stakeholders on this issue, including from academia, government and NGOs. The conclusion made was that what is now needed to improve implementation of FDCs is country-specific health systems analyses to design appropriate implementation strategies. Implementation strategies must look beyond listing on the WHO Essential Medicines List to consider approaches to improving FDC availability, accessibility, affordability, and adherence. Strategies might include incorporation of FDCs into the WHO HEARTS technical package, simplified treatment and monitoring algorithms, decentralisation of medicine dispensing and task-sharing for treatment management.
