Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary

Evidence shows that those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at higher risk for serious illness and mortality from COVID-19. In Kenya, about 50% of the COVID-19 patients who have died had an NCD. We sought to describe the challenges faced in accessing NCD medicines in Kenya during the pandemi...

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Autores principales:	Zana Wangari Kiragu, Gladwell Gathecha, Martin K. Mwangi, Zachary Ndegwa, Sonak Pastakia, Daniel Nyagah, Richard N. Cizungu, Mariana Takah Mutwiri, Meshack Ndolo, Veronika J. Wirtz
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Taylor & Francis Group 2021
Materias:	access to medicines kenya covid-19 non-communicable diseases equity Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/487d6f1eb9b94e269be2589ae7f79822
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:487d6f1eb9b94e269be2589ae7f798222021-11-11T14:23:43ZAccess to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary2328-86042328-862010.1080/23288604.2021.1984865https://doaj.org/article/487d6f1eb9b94e269be2589ae7f798222021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2021.1984865https://doaj.org/toc/2328-8604https://doaj.org/toc/2328-8620Evidence shows that those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at higher risk for serious illness and mortality from COVID-19. In Kenya, about 50% of the COVID-19 patients who have died had an NCD. We sought to describe the challenges faced in accessing NCD medicines in Kenya during the pandemic, through a descriptive narrative informed by key stakeholders engaged in NCD service delivery and decision-making. Access to NCD medicines was affected at three levels, service delivery, health facility information systems and the medicines supply chain to health facilities. In response to these gaps, the Ministry of Health released clear directives and interim guidelines for continuity of NCD service delivery. However, implementation of guidelines was not apparent from conversations with county officials or from assessment of county services by the Ministry. Rather, heterogeneity was observed in counties’ responsiveness to patient needs, where 5 out of 13 counties used mHealth technologies, while 5 had no established system to reach patients. COVID-19 amplified gaps that already existed in the system—particularly around lack of robust supply chains and sub-optimal health information systems. This descriptive paper will be useful to policy makers to provide a summary of the key challenges faced in accessing NCD medicines, identify gaps in medicines delivery, and make case for establishment of a more equitable health system to meet the needs of lower-income NCD patients.Zana Wangari KiraguGladwell GathechaMartin K. MwangiZachary NdegwaSonak PastakiaDaniel NyagahRichard N. CizunguMariana Takah MutwiriMeshack NdoloVeronika J. WirtzTaylor & Francis Grouparticleaccess to medicineskenyacovid-19non-communicable diseasesequityMedicine (General)R5-920Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENHealth Systems & Reform, Vol 7, Iss 1 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	access to medicines kenya covid-19 non-communicable diseases equity Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	access to medicines kenya covid-19 non-communicable diseases equity Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Zana Wangari Kiragu Gladwell Gathecha Martin K. Mwangi Zachary Ndegwa Sonak Pastakia Daniel Nyagah Richard N. Cizungu Mariana Takah Mutwiri Meshack Ndolo Veronika J. Wirtz Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
description	Evidence shows that those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at higher risk for serious illness and mortality from COVID-19. In Kenya, about 50% of the COVID-19 patients who have died had an NCD. We sought to describe the challenges faced in accessing NCD medicines in Kenya during the pandemic, through a descriptive narrative informed by key stakeholders engaged in NCD service delivery and decision-making. Access to NCD medicines was affected at three levels, service delivery, health facility information systems and the medicines supply chain to health facilities. In response to these gaps, the Ministry of Health released clear directives and interim guidelines for continuity of NCD service delivery. However, implementation of guidelines was not apparent from conversations with county officials or from assessment of county services by the Ministry. Rather, heterogeneity was observed in counties’ responsiveness to patient needs, where 5 out of 13 counties used mHealth technologies, while 5 had no established system to reach patients. COVID-19 amplified gaps that already existed in the system—particularly around lack of robust supply chains and sub-optimal health information systems. This descriptive paper will be useful to policy makers to provide a summary of the key challenges faced in accessing NCD medicines, identify gaps in medicines delivery, and make case for establishment of a more equitable health system to meet the needs of lower-income NCD patients.
format	article
author	Zana Wangari Kiragu Gladwell Gathecha Martin K. Mwangi Zachary Ndegwa Sonak Pastakia Daniel Nyagah Richard N. Cizungu Mariana Takah Mutwiri Meshack Ndolo Veronika J. Wirtz
author_facet	Zana Wangari Kiragu Gladwell Gathecha Martin K. Mwangi Zachary Ndegwa Sonak Pastakia Daniel Nyagah Richard N. Cizungu Mariana Takah Mutwiri Meshack Ndolo Veronika J. Wirtz
author_sort	Zana Wangari Kiragu
title	Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
title_short	Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
title_full	Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
title_fullStr	Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
title_full_unstemmed	Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary
title_sort	access to medicines for non-communicable diseases (ncds) during covid-19 in kenya: a descriptive commentary
publisher	Taylor & Francis Group
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/487d6f1eb9b94e269be2589ae7f79822
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Access to Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) during COVID-19 in Kenya: A Descriptive Commentary

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