Patient Access Programmes: Designing for MENA Realities

Patient access programmes (PAPs) are among the most visible expressions of a company's commitment to a market. In MENA, poorly designed PAPs don't just fail to reach patients — they can create regulatory and reputational risk.

The design challenge

MENA healthcare systems sit at very different points on the public/private spectrum. In Qatar, the vast majority of residents access care through Hamad Health Corporation. In Lebanon, the system is predominantly private with significant out-of-pocket expenditure. In Egypt, the new universal health coverage system is expanding but uneven. A PAP designed for one context will not function in another.

What works — and what doesn't

Co-pay assistance programmes, widely used in the US and Europe, have limited applicability in GCC markets where expatriate insurance is dominant. Free-goods programmes work better but require careful customs and distribution planning. Named-patient programmes remain important for rare diseases but require proactive engagement with health authority compassionate use frameworks.

Cultural and language considerations

Patient-facing materials that are not available in Arabic — or that use clinical language without plain-language alternatives — achieve significantly lower patient engagement. Health literacy levels vary significantly across the region and must be factored into programme design from the outset.

Our recommendation

Design PAPs for the lowest-infrastructure scenario you'll encounter in your target markets. Build in flexibility for distribution models, payment structures, and referral pathways. And always engage patient advocacy organisations early — their insight into lived experience is irreplaceable.