Health ministry to make sickle cell anaemia treatment available and accessible

The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has directed the National Drug Authority (NDA) to register hydroxyurea as a treatment for sickle cell anaemia in a move to increase the drug’s availability and accessibility. Research studies, indicate that the drug, previously used to treat leukaemia, can also be used to control adverse effects in sickle cell anaemia patients.

Dr Aceng, who was speaking at the launch of results from clinical trials of the drug in Kampala, asked NDA to expedite the process in at least three months to ensure the drug reaches all patients who need it for treatment. “Our teams in the non-communicable disease department will work on the treatment policy changes and guidelines,” Dr Aceng said, adding that government will work on its affordability. Currently, hydroxyurea costs between Shs1, 000 to 1500 per capsule which is not affordable for most Ugandans in need of the treatment.

In her remarks, she directed the NDA to immediately register the drug as a sickle cell anaemia drug as opposed to only being a cancer treatment. However, according to Mr Charles Kiyanga, the National Coordinator of the sickle cell anaemia in the Ministry of Health, hydroxyurea does not cure sickle cell anaemia but rather works like antiretroviral treatment among people living with HIV by prolonging their life span.

According to Dr Robert Opoka, a senior lecturer in the department of Paediatrics and child Health at Makerere University, the drug reduces adverse events like acute chest syndrome, painful crisis, splenic sequestration or blood transfusions and frequent hospitalization.

Titled: “Novel use of Hydroxyurea in an African Region Malaria (NOHARM): A trail for children with sickle cell anaemia, the study was aimed at finding out whether hydroxyurea can be used in the malaria endemic sub-Saharan Africa, where the greatest sickle cell burden exists.

Dr Opoka, who doubled as the principle investigator, said the drug provided significant clinical and laboratory benefits suggesting it would be safe and effective across the sub Saharan Africa. “Children receiving hydroxyurea had significantly increased haemoglobin concentration and foetal haemoglobin decreased leukocytes and reticulocytes,” the study read in part.

The head of the Sickle Cell Clinic at Mulago Hospital, Dr Phillip Kasirye said a total of 213 children were enrolled in between September 2014 and October 2015; among these, 208 were participants with some 104 patients enrolled on hydroxyurea and another 104 assigned as placebo. A placebo is a substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs.

The Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, who attended the study launch as a chief guest said the study had resulted into policy changing findings.

However, Dr Heather Hume of the University of Montreal, who shared the successes of the drug in treating sickle cell anaemia in North America said hydroxyurea cannot be taken by pregnant women.

While responding to a question on the drug’s impact on human reproduction, Dr Hume stated that some studies had indicated that it affects sperm production among men.