Addressing Disparities in Access to Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Developing Country: Insights from a Public-Private...

Access to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion is limited in upper middle-income countries.

To describe the experience of a public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at enhancing MT access in Bogotá, Colombia's public health care network.

Cross-sectional study describes access to MT under two drip-and-ship referral models (model A and B). Bivariate analysis was conducted using SPSS V25.

Between 2021 and 2023, there were 116 MT code activations. Over sixty percent (61.6%) successfully accessed MT, while administrative barriers prevented access in the remaining cases. There was no significant difference in MT access between PPP models A (60%) and B (66.7%). Model B faced prominent administrative issues related to insurance.

Public-private partnerships significantly improved MT access in Bogotá, benefiting nearly two-thirds of the studied population. However, administrative challenges persist. Effective referral systems and robust national policies are crucial for further enhancing MT access.