A Case Study by Masters Pharma

With World Cancer Day in mind this week, we want to put the spotlight on our fantastic client Masters Pharma‘s work out in Central America improving the lives of children suffering with Cancer.

Case Study: Children’s Cancer Foundations in Central America

As part of its mission to bring life-saving medicines to those that need them most, Masters Speciality Pharma (Masters) has partnered with three non-profit foundations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to provide support and cost-effective procurement of goods and services to child cancer patients.

In recent years, these three foundations have achieved a significantly increased survival rate in children with cancer by providing no-cost treatment to patients who previously had no oncology treatment options available to them. In addition to supplying the required medicines and services, Masters has been providing samples and donations to assist the development and education of doctors and medical staff, and more recently has helped launch a Palliative Care Programme, the first in the region, which will provide monitored accommodation and support for terminal patients.  Since working with Masters, a $1 million cost saving has been reported and the foundations have continued to grow with a further improvement in survival rates. 

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

Guatemala

AYUVI, the Foundation for Children with Cancer in Guatemala, has been providing treatment at no cost to patients who develop paediatric cancer since 1997.  The organisation founded the National Paediatric Oncology Unit (UNOP), the only hospital unit specialising in the treatment of paediatric cancer with a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach in the country.  The unit has become a reference centre for treatment of the disease, with around 150 patients currently attending the Outpatient Clinic every day.  8,537 children have been treated at the centre to date with over 40% of children diagnosed with cancer leaving the hospital free of the disease.

AYUVI also supports an outpatient clinic located in Quetzaltenang, serving patients from Western Guatemala, and AYUVI Hogar Estuardo Mini, a clinic located in the outskirts of Guatemala City.

Following a review conducted by Masters, the company has been providing cost-effective solutions to the Foundation’s pharmaceutical procurement programme. 

Honduras

Fundacion Hondureña Para El Niño Con Cancer in Honduras was founded in 1982 by a group of female volunteers with the objective of providing children with free oncology treatment up to the age of 18 years.  The Foundation acts as a non-profit organisation and has provided treatment to over 6,000 children throughout Honduras, most coming from families with scarce economic resources.

Partnering with Masters, the Foundation has launched a Palliative Care Programme, providing support and monitored accommodation for patients who do not respond to curative treatment.  The Palliative Care Centre in the city of Tegucigalpa provides comprehensive care, quality of life and dignity to those with terminal illness.

Masters reviewed the Foundation’s procurement budget, managing a $1 million cost saving, and this money has since been redirected to provide extra living accommodation for immediate family support.

El Salvador

Fundación Ayúdame a Vivir Pro-Niños Con Cancer de El Salvador (Help Me Live Foundation) is the only non-profit organisation offering no-cost paediatric cancer treatment in El Salvador.  Founded in 1991, at a time when children diagnosed with cancer in the country had a 5% chance of survival due to the absence of available medical treatment, the organisation has achieved survival rates of over 70%.  The work model developed in El Salvador has been replicated in 27 countries worldwide with the Foundation’s paediatric cancer programme recognised as a regional and global example of care by the United Nations at its 2018 global meeting.

Masters continues to work with this Foundation to provide support and cost-effective procurement of services.