Building a Sustainable Comprehensive Multiple Myeloma Program in Western Kenya

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Global Health
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) patient outcomes lag in low- and middle-income countries due to resource limitations.
• Barriers include scarcity of specialized healthcare professionals and inadequate infrastructure for diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
• The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) MM Program was established in Western Kenya in 2012 to address these disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the activities, challenges, and future plans of the AMPATH MM Program.
• To provide an implementation blueprint for improving MM care in underserved areas.
• To share lessons learned for replication in similar global settings.

Main Methods:

• Provided MM diagnosis and treatment training to healthcare professionals across 35 facilities (2018-2019).
• Secured access to antimyeloma drugs, including novel agents.
• Developed pharmacovigilance systems and facilitated patient health insurance enrollment and peer support.

Main Results:

• Enhanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities for healthcare professionals in Western Kenya.
• Improved access to essential and novel antimyeloma therapies.
• Established patient support networks and facilitated health insurance access.

Conclusions:

• The AMPATH MM Program demonstrates a successful model for improving multiple myeloma care in resource-limited settings.
• Key components include healthcare professional training, drug access, pharmacovigilance, and patient support.
• This initiative offers a replicable blueprint for enhancing MM patient outcomes globally.