Utilisation, access and recommendations regarding technologies for people living with type 1 diabetes: consensus statement of the ADS/ADEA/APEG/ADIPS Working Group.

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 diabetes presents significant challenges for optimal management. Despite intensive glycaemic control being the standard of care for several decades, glycaemic targets are infrequently achieved and the burden of complications remains high. Therefore, the advancement of diabetes management technologies has a major role in reducing the clinical and economic impact of the disease on people living with type 1 diabetes and on health care systems. However, a national framework is needed to ensure equitable and sustainable implementation of these technologies as part of holistic care. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: This consensus statement considers technologies for insulin delivery, glucose sensing and insulin dose advice that are commercially available in Australia. While international position statements have provided recommendations for technology implementation, the ADS/ADEA/APEG/ADIPS Working Group believes that focus needs to shift from strict trial-based glycaemic criteria towards engagement and individualised management goals that consider the broad spectrum of benefits offered by technologies. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS RESULT OF THIS STATEMENT: This Australian consensus statement from peak national bodies for the management of diabetes across the lifespan outlines a national framework for the optimal implementation of technologies for people with type 1 diabetes. The Working Group highlights issues regarding equity of access to technologies and services, scope of clinical practice, credentialling and accreditation requirements, regulatory issues with "do-it-yourself" technology, national benchmarking, safety reporting, and ongoing patient advocacy.

Medicare Accountable Care Organizations and the Adoption of New Surgical Technology.

BACKGROUND: Dissemination of new surgical technology is a major contributor to healthcare spending growth. Accountable care organization (ACO) policy aims to control spending while maintaining quality. As a result, ACOs provide incentive for hospitals to selectively adopt newer procedures with high value. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 20% sample of national Medicare claims from 2010 to 2015. We identified hospitals that performed 1 of 6 sets of procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve replacement, carotid endarterectomy or stent, lung lobectomy, colectomy, and prostatectomy. We identified hospitals participating in a Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO and a set of matched non-ACO control hospitals. We used a difference-in-differences approach to compare rate of surgical treatment and use of newer surgical technology for each set of procedures in ACO and non-ACO hospitals. RESULTS: We included 707 ACO-hospitals and 1,770 control hospitals. ACO hospitals performed surgery for carotid stenosis at a lower rate than non-ACO hospitals. There was no difference in the rate of surgical treatment for all other procedure sets. ACO hospitals were less likely to use an endovascular approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (85.2% vs 88.2%, p < 0.001) and more likely to use a minimally invasive approach for lung lobectomy (42.2% vs 34.7%, p = 0.004) than non-ACO hospitals. In difference-in-differences analysis, ACO participation was not associated with any significant difference in use of surgical care for any of the 6 procedure sets, nor with any significant difference in use of newer surgical technology. CONCLUSIONS: Despite ACO policy incentives to selectively adopt newer surgical technology, ACO participation was not associated with differences in rate of surgery or use of newer surgical technology for 6 major surgical procedures.

The Essential Role of Technology in the Public Health Battle Against COVID-19.

Technology has played an important role in responding to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. The virus's blend of lethality and transmissibility have challenged officials and exposed critical limitations of the traditional public health apparatus. However, throughout this pandemic, technology has answered the call for a new form of public health that illustrates opportunities for enhanced agility, scale, and responsiveness. The authors share the Microsoft perspective and illustrate how technology has helped transform the public health landscape with new and refined capabilities - the efficacy and impact of which will be determined by history. Technologies like chatbot and virtualized patient care offer a mechanism to triage and distribute care at scale. Artificial intelligence and high-performance computing have accelerated research into understanding the virus and developing targeted therapeutics to treat infection and prevent transmission. New mobile contact tracing protocols that preserve patient privacy and civil liberties were developed in response to public concerns, creating new opportunities for privacy-sensitive technologies that aid efforts to prevent and control outbreaks. While much progress is still needed, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted technology's importance to public health security and pandemic preparedness. Future multi-stakeholder collaborations, including those with technology organizations, are needed to facilitate progress in overcoming the current pandemic, setting the stage for improved pandemic preparedness in the future. As lessons are assessed from the current pandemic, public officials should consider technology's role and continue to seek opportunities to supplement and improve on traditional approaches.

Análise de custo da assistência de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas / Analysis of the cost of care for children and adolescents with medical complex chronic conditions

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo foi identificar a utilização de tecnologias e estimar o custo direto da atenção hospitalar de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas em um hospital público federal especializado na assistência de alta complexidade a pacientes pediátricos. O trabalho foi realizado concomitantemente com um estudo de coorte durante o período de um ano e incluiu 146 pacientes com condições complexas crônicas e 37 pacientes não-crônicos. A análise identificou que a maioria dos pacientes com condições complexas crônicas internou em média duas vezes em um ano e que tinham doenças com o envolvimento de pelo menos dois sistemas orgânicos. O uso de drenos e cateteres e a gastrostomia foram as tecnologias de maior utilização. Na comparação com os pacientes não-crônicos, o custo direto mediano dos pacientes com condições complexas crônicas foi superior quando se comparou a utilização de tecnologias. O estudo indica um elevado custo da atenção hospitalar para esses pacientes. Documentar a utilização de tecnologias e o custo da atenção hospitalar permite subsidiar os gestores e contribuir para a tomada de decisões de planejamento, gestão e financiamento das políticas de saúde na área pediátrica.

Abstract This paper aimed to identify the use of technology and to analyze the cost of hospital care for children and adolescents with medical complex chronic conditions at a public federal hospital specialized in high-complexity pediatric care, and was performed concomitantly with a prospective cohort study conducted over a one-year period. It included 146 patients with complex medical chronic conditions and 37 non-chronic patients. The analysis showed that most patients had, on average, two hospitalizations a year and were diagnosed with diseases related to at least two organic systems. Catheters, drains and gastrostomy were the most common technologies used. Median direct costs of patients with medically complex chronic conditions were higher than those of non-chronic patients when comparing the use of technology. The study shows high hospitalization cost to these patients. Technology use and hospitalization care costs documentation yields more data to support decision-makers in the planning, managing, and financing of pediatric health policies.

Analysis of the cost of care for children and adolescents with medical complex chronic conditions. / Análise de custo da assistência de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas.

This paper aimed to identify the use of technology and to analyze the cost of hospital care for children and adolescents with medical complex chronic conditions at a public federal hospital specialized in high-complexity pediatric care, and was performed concomitantly with a prospective cohort study conducted over a one-year period. It included 146 patients with complex medical chronic conditions and 37 non-chronic patients. The analysis showed that most patients had, on average, two hospitalizations a year and were diagnosed with diseases related to at least two organic systems. Catheters, drains and gastrostomy were the most common technologies used. Median direct costs of patients with medically complex chronic conditions were higher than those of non-chronic patients when comparing the use of technology. The study shows high hospitalization cost to these patients. Technology use and hospitalization care costs documentation yields more data to support decision-makers in the planning, managing, and financing of pediatric health policies.

O objetivo deste artigo foi identificar a utilização de tecnologias e estimar o custo direto da atenção hospitalar de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas em um hospital público federal especializado na assistência de alta complexidade a pacientes pediátricos. O trabalho foi realizado concomitantemente com um estudo de coorte durante o período de um ano e incluiu 146 pacientes com condições complexas crônicas e 37 pacientes não-crônicos. A análise identificou que a maioria dos pacientes com condições complexas crônicas internou em média duas vezes em um ano e que tinham doenças com o envolvimento de pelo menos dois sistemas orgânicos. O uso de drenos e cateteres e a gastrostomia foram as tecnologias de maior utilização. Na comparação com os pacientes não-crônicos, o custo direto mediano dos pacientes com condições complexas crônicas foi superior quando se comparou a utilização de tecnologias. O estudo indica um elevado custo da atenção hospitalar para esses pacientes. Documentar a utilização de tecnologias e o custo da atenção hospitalar permite subsidiar os gestores e contribuir para a tomada de decisões de planejamento, gestão e financiamento das políticas de saúde na área pediátrica.

The Introduction of New Non-Drug Health Technologies into Canadian Healthcare Institutions: Opportunities and Challenges.

INTRODUCTION: A recent pan-Canadian survey of 48 health organizations concluded that structures, processes, factors and information used to support funding decisions on new non-drug health technologies (NDTs) vary within and across jurisdictions in Canada. METHODS: A self-administered survey was used to determine demographic and financial characteristics of organizations, followed by in-depth interviews with senior leadership of consenting organizations to understand the processes for making funding decisions on NDTs. RESULTS: Seventy-three and 48 organizations completed self-administered surveys and telephone interviews, respectively (with 45 participating in both ways). Fifty-five different processes were identified, the majority of which addressed capital equipment. Most involved multidisciplinary committees (with medical and non-medical representation), but the types of information used to inform deliberations varied. Across all processes, decision-making criteria included local considerations such as alignment with organizational priorities. CONCLUSIONS: NDT decision-making processes vary in complexity, depending on characteristics of the healthcare organization and context.

Negotiating commissioning pathways for the successful implementation of innovative health technology in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Commissioning innovative health technologies is typically complex and multi-faceted. Drawing on the negotiated order perspective, we explore the process by which commissioning organisations make their decisions to commission innovative health technologies. The empirical backdrop to this discussion is provided by a case study exploring the commissioning considerations for a new photoplethysmography-based diagnostic technology for peripheral arterial disease in primary care in the UK. METHODS: The research involved an empirical case study of four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) involved in the commissioning of services in primary and secondary care. Semi-structured in-depth interviews (16 in total) and two focus groups (a total of eight people participated, four in each group) were conducted with key individuals involved in commissioning services in the NHS including (i) senior NHS clinical leaders and directors (ii) commissioners and health care managers across CCGs and (iii) local general practitioners. RESULTS: Commissioning of a new diagnostic technology for peripheral arterial disease in primary care involves high levels of protracted negotiations over funding between providers and commissioners, alliance building, conflict resolution and compromise of objectives where the outcomes of change are highly contingent upon interventions made across different care settings. Our evidence illustrates how reconfigurations of inter-organisational relations, and of clinical and related work practices required for the successful implementation of a new technology could become the major challenge in commissioning negotiations. CONCLUSIONS: Innovative health technologies such as the diagnostic technology for peripheral arterial disease are commissioned in care pathways where the value of such technology is realised by those delivering care to patients. The detail of how care pathways are commissioned is complex and involves high degrees of uncertainty concerning such issues as prioritisation decisions, patient benefits, clinical buy-in, value for money and unintended consequences. Recent developments in the new care models and integrated care systems (ICSs) in the UK offer a unique opportunity for the successful commissioning arrangements of innovative health technologies in primary care such as the new diagnostic technology for peripheral arterial disease.

[Estimation of the place of the Russian Federation in the world publication activity ranking on priority trends in biomedicine]. / Otsenka pozitsii Rossiiskoi Federatsii v mirovom reitinge publikatsionnoi aktivnosti po prioritetnym napravleniiam v oblasti biomeditsiny.

During 2012-2018 in the Russian Federation, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 599 of 05.07.2012, a set of state support measures was implemented aimed at increasing the specific gravity of Russian publications indexed in international databases. The national project 'Science' (NPS) designed to realize the goals set by Presidential Decree No.204 of 05.07.2018 'On the National Goals and Strategic Tasks for Development of the Russian Federation until 2024' continues and develops the theme of increasing the publication activity of the Russian Federation in the internationalized space. One of the six NPS targets is 'The place of the Russian Federation in terms of specific gravity in the total number of articles in areas defined by the priorities of scientific and technological development in publications indexed in international databases'. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the basic value of this indicator for biomedical disciplines related to the priority direction (paragraph 20c) of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation. We compared volumes of publication flows of the Russian Federation in 20 biomedical disciplines with a similar indicator of countries ranked fifth in the number of publications on the subject area under consideration, indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS CC). A 5-10 fold lag of the Russian Federation was recorded for the most part of the priority areas in the field of biomedicine identified by the NTS passport. The impact of public policy measures aimed at increasing the national biomedical publication stream for the period of 2012-2018 was estimated as insufficient to meet the considered NTS target.

Mobile Health and Technology Usage by Patients in the Diabetes, Nutrition, and Weight Management Clinic at an Urban Academic Medical Center.

Background: Low-income, minority, and underserved populations are often excluded from mobile health (mHealth) research. This cross-sectional study sought to define how patients at an urban, academic safety net hospital use technology in their daily lives in an effort to incorporate mHealth into clinical care and research. Methods: Patients receiving care in the Diabetes and Weight Management subspecialty clinic at Boston Medical Center were asked to complete a 17-question survey on technology usage. It was modeled on a Pew Research Center survey and available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Results: Of the 394 survey respondents, 279 (70.8%) completed all questions. Majority of respondents were female (76.4%) and between 30 and 49 years old (42.9%). Respondents self-identified primarily as black/African American (35.8%), white/Caucasian (28.2%), and not Hispanic/Latino (46.4%). Over 90% owned a smartphone and more than 85% accessed the Internet on a mobile device at least once per day. Regarding mHealth usage, 33.5% and 23.1% reported current use of health- and weight loss-centric applications (apps), respectively, while only 19.6% of patients with diabetes used smartphone apps as diabetes self-management tools. Nearly three-quarters (73.3%) reported interest in using apps to manage health. Respondents preferred e-mail (48.7%), phone (39.6%), and in-person communication (36.3%) as research recruitment tools. Conclusions: The overwhelming majority of an urban, underserved minority population cared for in a subspecialty clinic have access to mHealth-compatible devices and are either using or interested in using mHealth technology.

Health Technology Assessments in Radiology in Germany: Lack of Demand, Lack of Supply. / Health-Technology-Assessments in der Radiologie in Deutschland: Fehlende Nachfrage, fehlendes Angebot.

BACKGROUND: Health technology assessments (HTAs) are an interdisciplinary method to support sustainable, evidence-based healthcare decisions. They systematically assess medical products, procedures, and technologies with respect to medical, economic, legal, social, and ethical aspects. METHOD: This review analyzes the current use of HTAs in radiology in Germany and discusses challenges associated with HTAs. In particular, incentive structures of various players in the healthcare field involved in HTA implementation are considered for both the inpatient and outpatient sectors. Taking into account that the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has different authority between sectors ("ban reservation" for inpatients and "authorization right" for outpatients), we focus on the repercussions on reimbursement for new diagnosis or treatment methods by statutory health insurance companies. RESULTS: The G-BA's authority implicitly creates a paradox in terms of incentives to implement and finance HTAs: in the outpatient sector HTAs are considered necessary to evaluate new medical services while players may not have sufficient incentive to implement and finance HTAs in the inpatient sector. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of HTAs differ widely with respect to the items to be assessed. Therefore, an HTA for drug effectiveness is not easily transferable to radiological procedures. Within radiology, each method must be assessed individually (e. g. according to tumor stage). Despite these challenges, systematic compilation and critical assessment (regarding both cost and medical effectiveness) of available evidence should be a basic component of evidence-based radiology. As companies in healthcare fail to invest in studies that advance evidence-based radiology and considering the lack of incentive for such investments, public funding institutions need to accept the challenge to support studies that assess the benefit of radiological procedures. KEY POINTS: · HTAs should be a basic component of evidence-based radiology.. · G-BA's authority implicitly creates a paradox in terms of inventives to implement and finance HTAs.. · University hospitals and public funding institutions need to support studies that assess the benefit of radiological procedures.. CITATION FORMAT: · Winkelmann C, Neumann T, Zeidler J et al. Health Technology Assessments in Radiology in Germany: Lack of Demand, Lack of Supply. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2019; 191: 635 - 642.

An empirical tool for estimating the share of unmet need due to healthcare inefficiencies, suboptimal access, and lack of effective technologies.

BACKGROUND: Although there has been growing attention to the measurement of unmet need, which is the overall epidemiological burden of disease, current measures ignore the burden that could be eliminated from technological advances or more effective use of current technologies. METHODS: We developed a conceptual framework and empirical tool that separates unmet need from met need and subcategorizes the causes of unmet need into suboptimal access to and ineffective use of current technologies and lack of current technologies. Statistical models were used to model the relationship between health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) and treatment utilization using data from the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). Predicted HR-QOL was combined with prevalence data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) to estimate met need and the causes of unmet need due to morbidity in the US and EU5 for five diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, Parkinson's disease, hepatitis C, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RESULTS: HR-QOL was positively correlated with adherence to medication and patient-perceived quality and negatively correlated with financial barriers. Met need was substantial across all disease and regions, although significant unmet need remains. While the majority of unmet need was driven by lack of technologies rather than ineffective use of current technologies, there was considerable variation across diseases and regions. Overall unmet need was largest for COPD, which had the highest prevalence of all diseases in this study. CONCLUSION: We developed a methodology that can inform decisions about which diseases to invest in and whether those investments should focus on improving access to currently available technologies or inventing new technologies.

Examination of the uses, needs, and preferences for health technology use in adolescents with asthma.

Objective: To examine the health technology uses and preferences of adolescents with asthma using a qualitative descriptive individual interview approach. Methods: Twenty adolescents were recruited from regularly scheduled asthma clinic appointments from February to July 2016. Patients were interviewed about their technology use and ways in which health technology could improve their asthma management using an open-ended semi-structured interview format. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded into themes. Results: Social media (e.g. Snapchat, Instagram) and general communication (e.g. messaging) were the most common uses of technology while medical reminders (e.g. appointment, refill, medication) were the most common use of health technology. Adolescents identified ways in which health technology could improve their asthma management including (1) tracking symptoms and medication, (2) medical reminders, and (3) asthma and self-management knowledge specifically related to medications and individual action plans. Other themes that emerged included a desire to customize health technology to fit with individual schedules and medical routines and use of health technology data with medical providers. Conclusions: Adolescents and parents experience a number of challenges related to managing asthma, and health technology interventions should focus on ways to improve adherence and self-management. Future research considerations and potential interventions including ways to integrate adolescent preferences with evidence-based interventions are discussed.

The use of advanced medical technologies at home: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The number of medical technologies used in home settings has increased substantially over the last 10-15 years. In order to manage their use and to guarantee quality and safety, data on usage trends and practical experiences are important. This paper presents a literature review on types, trends and experiences with the use of advanced medical technologies at home. METHODS: The study focused on advanced medical technologies that are part of the technical nursing process and 'hands on' processes by nurses, excluding information technology such as domotica. The systematic review of literature was performed by searching the databases MEDLINE, Scopus and Cinahl. We included papers from 2000 to 2015 and selected articles containing empirical material. RESULTS: The review identified 87 relevant articles, 62% was published in the period 2011-2015. Of the included studies, 45% considered devices for respiratory support, 39% devices for dialysis and 29% devices for oxygen therapy. Most research has been conducted on the topic 'user experiences' (36%), mainly regarding patients or informal caregivers. Results show that nurses have a key role in supporting patients and family caregivers in the process of homecare with advanced medical technologies and in providing information for, and as a member of multi-disciplinary teams. However, relatively low numbers of articles were found studying nurses perspective. CONCLUSIONS: Research on medical technologies used at home has increased considerably until 2015. Much is already known on topics, such as user experiences; safety, risks, incidents and complications; and design and technological development. We also identified a lack of research exploring the views of nurses with regard to medical technologies for homecare, such as user experiences of nurses with different technologies, training, instruction and education of nurses and human factors by nurses in risk management and patient safety.

The impact of economic crisis on the Greek hospitals' productivity.

During the recent economic crisis, Greece implemented a comprehensive reform in the health care system. The 2010 health reform occurred under the constraints imposed by the memorandum of understanding that the Greek Government signed with its EU/International Monetary Fund creditors to control its deficit. The objective of the study is to examine the impact of the reform on the efficiency and productivity of public hospitals in Greece. We use the Malmquist productivity index to comparatively examine the potential changes before and after the reform years. We compare productivity, efficiency, and technological changes using panel data of 111 public acute hospitals operating in Greece throughout the recession period of 2009 to 2012. Bootstrapping methods are applied to allow for uncertainty owing to sampling error and for statistical inference for the Malmquist productivity index and its decompositions. The analysis indicates that the productivity has been increased following the policy changes. It appears that the expected benefits from the reform in general have been achieved, at least in the short-term. This result is examined in the light of management and operations activities, which are related with the reform process. Therefore, at a second stage, the Malmquist index is regressed on variables that may potentially be statistically associated with productivity growth.

Bridging technology and clinical practice: innovating inpatient hyperglycaemia management in non-critical care settings.

Emerging evidence shows that suboptimal glycaemic control is associated with increased morbidity and length of stay in hospital. Various guidelines for safe and effective inpatient glycaemic control in the non-critical care setting have been published. In spite of this, implementation in practice remains limited because of the increasing number of people with diabetes admitted to hospital and staff work burden. The use of technology in the outpatient setting has led to improved glycaemic outcomes and quality of life for people with diabetes. There remains an unmet need for technology utilisation in inpatient hyperglycaemia management in the non-critical care setting. Novel technologies have the potential to provide benefits in diabetes care in hospital by improving efficacy, safety and efficiency. Rapid analysis of glucose measurements by point-of-care devices help facilitate clinical decision-making and therapy adjustment in the hospital setting. Glucose treatment data integration with computerized glucose management systems underpins the effective use of decision support systems and may streamline clinical staff workflow. Continuous glucose monitoring and automation of insulin delivery through closed-loop systems may provide a safe and efficacious tool for hospital staff to manage inpatient hyperglycaemia whilst reducing staff workload. This review summarizes the evidence with regard to technological methods to manage inpatient glycaemic control, their limitations and the future outlook, as well as potential strategies by healthcare organizations such as the National Health Service to mediate the adoption, procurement and use of diabetes technologies in the hospital setting.

Assessing equity in the distribution of high-technology medical equipment in Guangxi: evidence from an ethnic minority region in Southern China.

BACKGROUND: High-technology medical equipment (HTME) are important health resources. However, there is unequal distribution of these equipment in favor of metropolis and well equipped health facilities. This study sought to examine the equity gaps in the distribution of HTME in Guangxi. The results of this study could shed light on the future HTME allocation in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. METHODS: Data related to HTME was sourced from a general investigation of all the hospitals of Guangxi. Concentration index was used to assess the equity status of HTME in Guangxi. RESULTS: Over all, the total amount of HTME in Guangxi had been increasing from 2011 to 2015, and the per million population HTME of five kinds were all increased at the same time. Meanwhile, the concentration indices ranged between 0.1020 and 0.4617. The five medical equipment were all concentrated among the rich. CONCLUSIONS: The possession of SPECT per million population in Guangxi is lower than the national average level while it is superior to the national average level for CT, MRI, DSA and LA. The equity status in the distribution of the five medical equipment has deteriorated since 2011. In 2015, the equity status of CT was the best, while the equity status of MRI was the worst. Meanwhile, 45.1% of HTME were concentrated in Nanning, Guilin, and Liuzhou.

The regulation and adoption of health technologies under Brazil's Unified Health System: barriers to access to medicines for diseases of poverty? / Registro e incorporação de tecnologias no SUS: barreiras de acesso a medicamentos para doenças da pobreza?

The study aimed to examine the regulation and adoption of health technologies for the diseases of poverty in the Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS). An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2016 consisting of the search and analysis of relevant documents on the websites of Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the National Commission for the Adoption of Technologies by the SUS, and Saúde Legis (the Ministry of Health's Legislation System). The 2014 version of the Brazilian National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME, acronym in Portuguese) contained 132 medicines for diseases of poverty. Over one-third of these (49) had only one national producer, while 24 were not registered in the country. The number of medicines contained in the RENAME dedicated to this group of diseases increased by 46% between 2006 and 2014. Despite advances in the regulation and incorporation of technologies by the SUS, given the lack of market interest and neglect of diseases of poverty, the government has a vital role to play in ensuring access to the best available therapies in order to reduce health inequalities. It therefore follows that Brazil needs to improve the regulation of medicines that do not attract market interest.