Improving health outcomes for patients in low- and middle-income countries is about more than medicine. Studies suggest that Social Determinants of Heath (SDoH), the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life, significantly influence between 30-55% of health outcomes.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these barriers, The Max Foundation and its partners implement diverse programs to ensure patients have the best chance to overcome their illness.
“I feel very grateful and happy. It’s very good for me to have help with transport and my PCR tests because I don’t have the financial means.”
– Elizabet, a cleaner and mother from Paraguay living with chronic myeloid leukemia
Diagnostics
Access to diagnostics is as important as access to medicine. Physicians need this data to make informed decisions, document treatment responses, and prescribe urgently needed second-line medications.
The Max Foundation works to address this by supporting the cost of diagnostics, partnerships, and education.
Last Mile Services
Cancer care is often centralized in a few specialized hospitals. This means that people have to travel long distances to seek treatment which results in a financial burden for many families. That’s where Last Mile Services come in. The program helps address the gap in the “last mile” to access treatment by supporting the cost of transportation to and/or from a hospital visit.
Day by Day Program
Cancer treatment often require patients to stick to long-term complex regimens that might be hard for them to follow. The Day by Day program aims to support the emotional needs of patients, help them navigate through their busy lives, take their medications on schedule, and better understand the disease and treatments available.
Patient Support Group Meetings
In many communities, a cancer diagnosis carries great stigma. Support group meetings are designed to address the stress and isolation that comes with living with a long-term illness. The meetings offer support and education to patients and their loved ones. That includes question and answer sessions with medical experts, geared toward relevant topics including compliance, side effects, diet, nutrition, and diagnostics.
Max Schooling Project
The Max Schooling Project aims at support the children of cancer patients so that they are able to continue their education. The program provides education grants that allow parents to buy books for their children, pay for transportation to school, take part in extra school activities, and share in social events. The program also provides emotional support and care directly to the recipient families each month.
The Max Schooling Project: Empowering Patients and Families through Continuing Education
