The access programme and advocacy initiative closed affordability gaps for Filipino patients.
Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. won Most Differentiated Service of the Year – Philippines and Patient Advocacy Program of the Year – Philippines in the Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards 2026 for its access model that supports patients from disease awareness to therapy completion.
In a healthcare system where many patients face delayed diagnosis, long referral pathways, and high out-of-pocket costs, the company built a differentiated and sustainable service anchored on its Patient Assistance Program (PAP). The programme follows a clear principle: therapy completion should not depend on a patient’s ability to pay.
PAP uses an affordability-based assessment to evaluate each eligible patient’s circumstances and set a contribution aligned to what the patient can reasonably afford for the full course of treatment. This structured, patient-level approach supports equity whilst maintaining business viability. It is not a standard discount model but a tailored access scheme designed for Filipino patients and adaptable to changing circumstances.
The operating model involves independent third parties assessing financial support needs and informing programme design. Patients share in the cost of treatment, whilst Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. collaborates with local authorities and partners to help cover the remaining cost. The company embeds access within hospital pathways through collaborations with organisations such as the Tzu Chi Foundation, private institutions, and major hospitals, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses and improve coordination across the patient journey.
To date, more than 1,300 Filipino patients have received support through Takeda’s access programme, including patients living with Hodgkin lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease, and other rare conditions. By enabling therapy completion, the programme helps patients return to work or school and resume caregiving roles, reducing the broader social and economic burden of untreated disease.
Beyond affordability, the company addresses inequity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas by working with partners to strengthen patient navigation and connections to appropriate providers and specialists. Through Access to Medicines Summits and partnership frameworks, it also supports patients in accessing available private and government funding.
A key milestone in its advocacy efforts is the inclusion of life-saving treatment for rare diseases such as haemophilia in the Philippine National Formulary, enabling free access to essential medicines in government hospitals following partnerships and a positive health technology assessment.
C-ANPROM/PH/NON/0051
The Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards shines a spotlight on the outstanding companies redefining pharmaceutical excellence in Asia. It lauds those who redefine the pharmaceutical landscape through innovative, unique initiatives that have significantly enhanced their businesses.
