Patients Helping Fund, GSK announce patient support program
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Patients Helping Fund Society (KPHFS) and global science-led healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced yesterday the launch of a new program - Nesma to support severe asthma patients by providing them with GSK-subsidized medicines as covered under the agreement.
For patients whose asthma medication is not covered by their public or private health insurance plan, accessing treatment can be a struggle. Through Nesma, underprivileged patients in Kuwait will now have access to these treatments.
Severe asthma is the most serious and lifethreatening form of asthma. Most people with asthma can manage their symptoms well with standard medicines, such as preventer inhalers and reliever inhalers. However, those with severe asthma often struggle to manage their symptoms even with high doses of asthma medicines, requiring increased medical attention and care.
“Imagine your chest tightening up and you beginning to wheeze, not being able to breathe. Having severe asthma can be a very scary experience. On top of that, imagine if you also need to worry about having access to the right medication. Support programs can truly change the life of patients, enabling them to take control of their condition and ultimately their life,” explained Dr
Mona Al-Ahmad, President of Kuwait society of allergy and clinical immunology and head of allergy department at Al-Rashed allergy center.
“We encourage such initiatives that aim to alleviate the challenges that the patients face through anchoring our vision which revolves around actuating partnerships between associations, institutions, and various stakeholders to facilitate the patients access and play a key role is spreading the awareness about the diseases in Kuwait. Nesma program is an embodiment to what I mentioned and will contribute to supporting the eligible patients,” said Mohammad Al-Sharhan, Chairman of the KPHFS. “Severe asthma represents a serious public health burden, and we are very happy to offer a solution that eases patients’ suffering from this condition.”
“Finding ways to transform the life of asthma patients through ground-breaking treatments has always been a top research priority at GSK. For as long as patients are suffering from the disorder, we are committed to helping them do more, feel better, live longer today, tomorrow and the day after. We are very excited to launch this patient support program, alongside the KPHFS, so that underprivileged patients in Kuwait can live a full and normal life,” said Belal Ghattas, GSK Country Manager Kuwait.
Leading healthcare access company Axios International, has been retained to administer the program and determine participant eligibility. Severe asthma patients interested in the program are advised to discuss their eligibility with their physicians who have been briefed on details of the program.