Mumbai, India, 24 October 2024 –Abbott, the global healthcare leader, recently hosted the India chapter of the third edition of a:care Congress in collaboration with the Association of Physicians of India (API). International experts in behavioral science and other medical fields came together to address the health challenge of medication non-adherence, which is when a person doesn’t stick to the prescribed treatment plan. Abbott’s a:care Congress is one of the largest global educational initiatives on medication adherence, with endorsement from more than 60 national and international medical societies. This year’s theme, ‘Adherence is a behavior. Do we have the right one?’, highlighted key behavioral insights that lead to medicine non-adherence. It also explored the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence in guiding doctors to help their patients stay on top of their treatment plans.
Today, India’s NCD burden is escalating, with the country alone responsible for more than 75% of NCD-related mortality occurring globally ii. While the chronic conditions commonly involve long-term treatment, roughly 50% of patients do not take their medicines as prescribed, and one-third never fill their prescriptionsiii. In India, this problem is particularly challenging with adherence to medications being low across all therapies in the country. According to the World Health Organization, 62% of people with multiple comorbidities were non-adherent. Having a complex dosing routine can further add to this rising problem.
Dr. Milind Y. Nadkar, President – API, Prof. Head of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology, and Dean – Academic, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, commented “The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that adherence is a powerful behavior that can help lessen the health burden more than any medicine innovation. Improving medication non-adherence for better NCD management is one of the key focus areas for API. This collaboration with Abbott’s a:care Congress will further accelerate our efforts in helping doctors better understand the complexities driving non-adherence so that they have the tools they need to help their patients to change their habits.”
Medicine non-adherence has far-reaching and significant social and economic impacts. In cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, non-adherence increases the risk of hospital visits and recurrent cardiac events iv leading to delays in recoveryv. Also, it has a significant economic impact as it adds up to $100 billion in preventable medical costs per yearvi. Further, roughly 8% of the total global health expenditure could be avoided with proper adherence to medicinevii.
Dr. Parag Sheth, Regional Director Medical Affairs, Abbott India said, “It’s important to understand the reasons behind non-adherence to improve it. Forgetfulness or being busy and high pill burden are some of the most common reasons. Through the a:care Congress, more healthcare professionals can understand how to address these problems with insights on what drives people’s behaviors and how to best support people in leading healthier lives.”
He also added, “Equipping doctors with the knowledge and tools to integrate behavioral science into treatment protocols can help them support their patients better. Among other steps, the adoption of tech solutions, such as health apps, wearable technology, or monitoring devices, can help people better follow their doctor’s advice.”
Abbott’s pioneering a:care initiative is anchored in the company’s mission to improve people’s health, and rethinks how doctors and patients interact. In creating a:care, Abbott has worked with the leading experts in behavioral science to help doctors understand the individual profile of patients and predict behaviors or beliefs that are leading to non-adherence. With a:care, doctors and patients can together define the path forward to achieve better health. This can further lessen the burden on the healthcare system and helps create healthier communities.
This year, 75,000 healthcare professionals, including close to 50,000 from India, expressed their interest in improving medication adherence and registered to the event. In addition to the doctors, nurses were also invited for the India chapter as they play a crucial role in helping patients follow their treatment. This reflects healthcare experts’ focus to address this challenge with innovative solutions to improve patients’ quality of life.
Know more about a:care Congress here: https://acarepro.abbott.com/acare-congress-2024-program-india/
About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. In India, Abbott was established in 1910, and is one of the country's oldest and most admired healthcare companies. With more than 12,000 employees in the country, Abbott is helping to meet the healthcare needs of consumers, patients, and doctors throughout urban and rural India.
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Abbott Media:
Mandira Viegas: mandira.viegas@abbott.com
Gayatri Mehendale: gayatri.mehendale@abbott.com
“This initiative is undertaken in the public interest by Abbott”.
References:
i World Health Organisation (2003). Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation
ii World Health Organisation (2022a). Noncommunicable diseases. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
iiiWorld Health Organisation (2003). Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation
ivKronish, Ian M, and Siqin Ye. “Adherence to cardiovascular medications: lessons learned and future directions.” Progress in cardiovascular diseases vol. 55,6 (2013): 590-600. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2013.02.001.
vKronish, Ian M, and Siqin Ye. “Adherence to cardiovascular medications: lessons learned and future directions.” Progress in cardiovascular diseases vol. 55,6 (2013): 590-600. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2013.02.001.
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