Bayer Co. (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Bayer) launched Bayer Patient Assistance Program (BayPAP) Web App, an innovative, technology-driven tool to complement the patient assistance program for cancer patients, particularly those with liver cancer.
The user-friendly BayPAP Web App, a collaboration between Bayer and healthcare services provider, Zuellig Pharma, provides patients and their physicians to access a specially-designed portal that provides both parties a ‘paperless’ experience and a holistic record of the patient’s treatment duration on Bayer’s medication as well as their history of redemption. This will allow the patients, together with the loved ones, to effectively monitor and diligently stay on course with their treatment.
Launched in conjunction with World Cancer Day on February 4, BayPAP Web App is designed to make it easier and faster for liver cancer patients to access their treatment information. Each BayPAP patient is provided a starter kit and guided through the patient information leaflet, which includes a specific doctor’s code for registration, by his doctor. A hotline system is also available to guide patients in using the BayPAP Web App.
BayPAP is a patient assistance program designed to assist Malaysian patients who have been diagnosed with certain cancers and prescribed with Sorafenib or Regorafenib by their doctors. Bayer’s patient assistance program was first launched in 2009, providing medication assistance to liver cancer patients suitable for treatment with Sorafenib, an oral targeted therapy for inoperable liver cancer (or known scientifically as hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Bayer then introduced its second patient assistance program in 2014 to assist patients with colorectal and gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) cancers who are treated with an oral targeted therapy treatment, called Regorafenib.
“Bayer is reiterating our commitment to oncology and we have successfully benefitted over 300 patients to date through our patient assistance programs. Now, with the newly improved, innovative and rebranded BayPAP, patients will be able to have easy access to a one-stop web-based medication assistance resource and save the lead time during the redemption of their free medication. Our aim is to provide medication assistance to Malaysian patients in helping them to continue their treatments for as long as it is medically required,” said the Managing Director of Bayer Co. (Malaysia), Ms. Jennifer Yong.
Yong also said that the launch and collaboration with Zuellig Pharma is timely, as more and more physicians see the advantage of going digital. BayPAP Web App, which allows for easier administration of Patient Assistance Program (PAP), also provides greater visibility into the enrolment and medication distribution for involved parties.
“Patients are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we are convinced that strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration between Bayer and Zuellig Pharma, complements Bayer’s research capacities, stimulate innovation and facilitate the joint development of new approaches that ultimately benefit patients,” she added.
Mr Moses Hee, Vice President, CareConnect of Zuellig Pharma, said that digital solutions in today’s healthcare landscape is essential, given the current digitally-driven environment that makes it conducive for both patients and doctors to access healthcare advisory and follow-ups. Globally, the healthcare industry is moving towards digital innovation, and Malaysia is among the countries quick to adopt this platform.
“Unless we dramatically change our approach, we will never be able to keep up with the region’s fast-growing healthcare needs. Effective and affordable disease prevention measures are important, but disease management is equally important and there is a real need for us to help patients better manage their medical conditions, especially chronic conditions. BayPAP, a jointly developed program by Bayer and Zuellig Pharma CareConnect, is a great example of such initiative that helps patients afford and adhere to medical treatment.”
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As one of the most difficult cancers to treat, the outlook for patients in advanced stages of HCC is generally dismal, with an expected overall survival (OS) of only six months to a year.
“In Malaysia, liver cancer is the eighth most frequent cancer and the sixth most common cancer in males,2” said Dr John Low Seng Hooi, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Sunway Medical Centre.
“HCC is commonly found here among the Chinese, followed by the Malays and Indians, with the prevalence particularly higher in older Chinese men over 60 years of age.” said John.
“Going ‘paperless’ with the BayPAP Web App is certainly a step in the right direction for the healthcare industry. With detailed information and pertinent records at our fingertips, and our patients now being able to interact better with us, we can follow through easily on their condition and ultimately facilitate better treatment outcomes.” he said.
