SPONSORED FEATURE: SANOFI
Box 5: Ashayein
access to cancer care must be addressed. Sanofi takes a case-
by-case approach and has initiated access programmes in
Ashayein – an integrated patient support pilot programme partnership with local health care communities (see Box 5:
Location: India
Ashayein in India).
Key number: 149 patients treated since July 2012.
Finally, to further respond to public health challenges in
The Ashayein patient support programme is dedicated to the
care of all deserving patients working on both cost burden and developing countries, Sanofi engages in constructive
patient empowerment. A tier-pricing programme based on conversation and cooperative collaboration with health care
physicians’ recommendations, and an evaluation of income by professionals, payers, governments, and nonprofit
third parties, is addressing the obstacle of the cost of organizations around the world to help find sustainable
medicines. Also, this assistance programme has a dedicated
solutions. One example of this is an initiative called “My Child
counselor providing counseling to patients’ families and care
Matters,” which is a partnership between the Sanofi Espoir
givers on disease treatment and management of appropriate
self-care. Foundation and the Union for International Cancer Control
(UICC) to fight against childhood cancer in developing
countries where the paediatric oncology field is still emerging.
Oncology Academy). Additionally, Sanofi takes a patient (see Box 6: My Child Matters).
centred approach to cancer care. For the patient, learning that Indeed, cancer is and will remain a public health priority in
she has cancer is not only about diagnosis and treatment, but the coming years, in order to avoid a heavy economic and
it becomes a traumatic life-altering experience. Sanofi in social burden impact on developing economies. Sanofi is
Morocco has set up a project in partnership with the Geneva committed, through partnerships, to helping fill the oncology
University Hospital (Switzerland), to support the training of gap. l
both nurses and doctors regarding the psychosocial aspects
of cancer (see Box 3: Training oncologists and nurses in For more information about these and other Sanofi programmes,
Morocco). please contact Megan Thomas, megan.thomas@sanofi.com.
Cancer needs to be addressed with a proactive approach to
1.
WHO website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html 9
increase chances of recovery and survivorship. Therefore,
Sanofi’s action begins with prevention through awareness and
screening programmes. (see Box 4: Giving life a chance) From
a social and political standpoint, the cost burden regarding
Box 6: My Child Matters
My Child Matters
Location: Fighting against childhood cancer in low- and middle-
income countries.
Key number: An important number of countries involved in Asia,
Latin America and Africa.
The project “My Child Matters” was launched in 2006 and is a
partnership between the Sanofi Espoir Foundation and the
UICC. It fuses financial support, the expertise of cancer
specialists from the world over and effective networking to
improve all aspects of the health care chain: information and
awareness campaigns for authorities and the public; health
personnel training; early diagnosis; access to care, including the
underdeveloped fields of pain management and palliative care;
and psychological support for children with cancer, their families
and their care providers.
The programme integrates local partners, regional hospitals and
NGOs, international paediatric oncology and public health
experts. The programme is now entering a new phase with the
deployment of global awareness raising actions. This advocacy
model has to become global to stimulate and enhance the action
of governments.
20 CANCER CONTROL 2013