ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A delegation of leaders from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) traveled recently to the Middle East to present the U.S. managed care pharmacy model at a conference hosted by the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi. The event was the 1st Annual PharmacoEconomics Middle East Forum, held March 3-4 in Abu Dhabi.
The Academy was represented by AMCP President Brian Sweet, AMCP Board of Directors Diana Brixner and Doug Burgoyne, and AMCP Executive Director Judith Cahill. The AMCP delegation presented on how managed care pharmacy tools and practices, such as formularies, utilizations reviews, use of generic drugs, and pharmacy and therapeutic (P&T) committees, can improve health outcomes while containing costs.
The conference was held as part of an effort to build a more cost-effective long-term health care environment in the Middle East, said Mohammed Abeulkhair, M.D., head of Pharma/Medicine and Medical Product Regulation Section of the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi.
“We have seen a rise in costs, treatments, medication and applications of higher-quality effective technology,” he wrote in the conference guide. “I believe the time is now to push forward with new innovative ways of exploring channels to increase access of cost-effective therapies and technology with documented positive related outcomes to the patients.”
Sweet noted that the UAE’s interest in AMCP is further confirmation of the value that managed care pharmacy brings to the care of patients. “This is another recognition of the crucial role that managed care pharmacy plays in delivering safe and effective health care,” he said.
Burgoyne added, “The Academy and its members have developed many sound and well-recognized tools and systems for the delivery of pharmacy benefits. These can be effective, even when applied to health care systems different than our own.”
This is not the first time health care stakeholders from overseas have reached out to the Academy. Korean pharmacy benefit leaders, for example, recently formed a Korean Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (KAMCP) after a delegation from that country attended several of AMCP’s national conferences. AMCP cofounder Robert P. Navarro, PharmD, author of the text book Managed Care Pharmacy Practice, 2nd Ed., presented the keynote address at a KAMCP conference in 2009. South Korea, which has a single-payer health care model, has successfully introduced several aspects of managed care pharmacy into its system.
“We are delighted to be able to share our knowledge and expertise in ways that will help our counterparts around the world,” said Brixner. “We see this as a natural extension of our mission here in the U.S.”
The Academy recognizes the international community as a potential area for expansion, noted Cahill.
“While we certainly have a full plate here at home, we always are looking for innovative ways to develop and expand the Academy’s reach,” she said. “AMCP welcomes these international exchanges of ideas and we are beginning to explore ways in which to formalize our international outreach and presence.”
CONTACT:
Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
Neal Learner, 703-683-8416 ext. 608
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United Arab Emirates Middle East
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Biotechnology Clinical Trials Genetics Hospitals Pharmaceutical Other Health Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care
MEDIA:
| Logo |