On November 1, 2019, the first shipment of treatment arrived at the hospital in Maputo, Mozambique. This is the first country Max Access Solutions, The Max Foundation’s patient-centered access model, has expanded into without a former access program in place.
“The Max Access Solutions provides hope in the form of innovative cancer treatment in neglected regions of the world,” says Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO of The Max Foundation. “Today we reached a new frontier and I am deeply grateful to all who made it possible.”
In the beginning of 2018, Cathy Scheepers, The Max Foundation’s Region Head of Africa & Middle East visited the hospital in Maputo and learned of over 100 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who were unable to access treatment. The only way patients could access treatment was to travel to South Africa, a challenging day of travel. Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, and for the majority of people living there, traveling to find treatment was simply not an option.
“Over 100 patients who have had a five-year life expectancy now have access to live normal lives.” says Cathy. “We’re changing not only the physician and patient perspectives, but also the broader community perspective that cancer is not always a death sentence. There is hope if you have access to treatment.”
Thank you to all who made access to treatment in Mozambique a reality: the passionate donors, physicians in Maputo, Humanitarian PACT partner Novartis, advisors, and The Max Foundation’s global team members. Everyone involved worked tirelessly to expand the scope of Max Access Solutions into the hands of those awaiting treatment, and now, patients have the chance to spend more days with their families, communities, and loved ones.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
Estoril, Portugal– In recognition of her personal contribution and role in leading The Max Foundation in increasing access to treatment, care, and support for people living with cancer around the world, Max CEO, Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the first recipient of the International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Foundation’s ERSAP Prize. The International CML Foundation awarded our….
Watch The Max Foundation’s video from Max Global Experience Uganda. The Max Global Experience Uganda was a fundraising and engagement opportunity for patient leaders, industry partners, and Max team members to come together to expand access to cancer treatment in Africa. The global experience included an all-day symposium, a visit to the Uganda Cancer Institute, and a “last mile” walk along the Nile in solidarity with patients across Africa.
Since the launch of Max Access Solutions in 2017, The Max Foundation has delivered over 10 million daily doses of cancer treatment to patients in more than 70 low- and middle-income countries.
