Takeda Pharmaceuticals secures Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards for Patient Assistance Programme

The affordability-based programme is designed to be equitable and sustainable.

Multinational pharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG Singapore Branch clinched the Healthcare Access Innovation of the Year category win at the coveted Healthcare Asia Pharm Awards 2024 for its Affordability-based Patient Assistance Programme (PAP), which enables access to innovative treatments for patients who would otherwise not be able to afford them.

The Affordability-based PAP assesses the individual financial circumstances of eligible patients and charges only what they can afford to pay for the full course of the treatment. This programme provides sustainable and equitable access for patients whilst maintaining a thriving business. 

Through the PAP, Takeda leverages third parties to understand how much financial help a patient needs and evolve tailored access scheme designs. Based on this, the patient shares the cost of treatment, whilst the company works with local authorities and other partners to cover the rest of the treatment. 

The programme also does not employ a one-size-fits-all approach, with each PAP designed to meet the needs of the local context and to adapt to changing circumstances.

In Thailand and Vietnam, PAPs serve to bridge the affordability gap for the most vulnerable whilst newly registered therapies are integrated into national reimbursement programmes. In Malaysia, PAPs operate a two-track system to account for the diverging needs and funding mechanisms of public and private healthcare systems.

During the community quarantines, Takeda has also worked with partners and physicians in the Philippines to enable qualified health providers to attend to PAP patients at home to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment.

Since the launch of PAP, it has been implemented across Asia and has enabled access for over 7,000 patients across oncology, gastroenterology, and rare diseases who were previously unable to afford such treatments.

The Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards honours outstanding pharma companies in Asia that have demonstrated unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence and have redefined pharmaceutical excellence.

The Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's innovative and unique initiatives that enhanced your business and remarkable contributions to the pharmaceutical industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].