A recent Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) study has identified significant barriers to accessing essential hypertension medications across the Caribbean and Latin America.
A PAHO release disclosed that the barriers include outdated essential medicines lists and diffuse procurement practices.
Published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, the study covered 22 countries participating in the HEARTS initiative.
HEARTS aims to enhance hypertension management and cardiovascular risk prevention through standardised treatment protocols and improved access to essential medications.
According to PAHO, hypertension affects 35.4% of adults aged 30-79, and remains inadequately managed.
The organisation said 37% of individuals with hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean are undiagnosed, 15% of those diagnosed do not receive treatment, and 47% of those treated do not have their blood pressure controlled.
Key recommendations from the PAHO study on hypertension include updating essential medicines lists, improving procurement practices, increasing transparency, and enhancing market access.
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
As a sufferer of severe hypertension I have to take 5 different medications and because the dosage does not match what the pharmacy has in stock I end up with anything between 7 and 11 tablets to take every day.
Not only do I rattle but if I could get the correct dose it would be far cheaper.
As a foot note my blood pressure is controlled at 140 / 80. Without the medication I would at least have had a stroke or be DEAD