A Dubai-based health tech startup has partnered with Novo Nordisk to launch what is considered one of the first value-based redemption model tests in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
GluCare.Health – Selected as one of the 50 Most Funded Startups in the Region. Forbes Middle East For $ 20 Million – And the Danish multinational pharmaceutical company begins a partnership with a weight management pilot program for 150 patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The purpose of this study, scheduled to begin in September 2022, is to study the outcomes of hands-on patient care and data-driven remote care compared to traditional models being conducted in the country.
Larger context
GluCare.Health’s 6-month program, which integrates new digital biomarkers with existing therapies, is an interdisciplinary program consisting of health coaches, caregivers, nurses or patient educators, and endocrine metabolizers. Clinical teams have been reported to be involved. Startup wearables and continuous remote data monitoring form the digital side.
“Novo Nordisk UAE provides the pharmacological elements of the weight management program and puts some of the cost of the project at risk. That is, along with GluCare.Health, reimburses the cost of the program to the patient. Weight loss. Key performance indicators are not met, “said Ihsan Almarzooqi, co-founder and managing director of GluCare. Healthcare IT News.. “This kind of rebate is uncommon in the pharmaceutical industry and is a novel approach for the Novo Nordisk UAE. Through this partnership, Novo Nordisk not only validates the program, but also the healthcare we have advocated for many years. We also participate in a value-based approach. “
GluCare.Health and Novo Nordisk will pay all or part of the cost of care if the participant has not lost at least 10% of the body, in accordance with the minimum requirements of “in terms of involvement and compliance with the protocol that the patient must follow”. Will bear. Weight until the end of the test.
Important reason
According to the company, the pilot program “may be widely adopted as it could save up to $ 3.6 billion annually in the UAE economy.”
Ali Hashemi, co-founder and chairman of GluCare.Health, said: These include sleep apnea, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, pre-diabetes and osteoarthritis, among others. “
He goes on to say: “These downstream conditions cost an estimated $ 3.6 billion annually in the UAE alone, and the risk ultimately rests with employers and society. Obesity itself is considered a disease and its treatment is mainstream. If it costs money on a daily basis, weight loss will have a major waterfall impact on the costs downstream of the medical system. “
Almarzooqi said: GluCare.Health will report and publish the results of this investigation upon completion. You will also benefit from new data that you use as part of your ongoing care model, such as digital biomarkers and engagement data captured by your own platform.
“Typical obesity programs and existing literature do not contain this type of” overly personalized and continuous “information. These new datasets are added to regular datasets such as test results and clinic results. The combination of both sets and the “risk payment model” can provide a blueprint for how future obesity programs will be adopted and more widely paid by payers. “
On record
“Obesity is a complex and serious chronic disease associated with many other health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer,” said UAE’s Vice President and General Manager of Novonordisk. Mads Bo Larsen says. “In the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity in the UAE has nearly tripled, and this trend threatens the health system, economy, and personal life.
“We are well documented that holistic approaches and comprehensive solutions are needed for obesity management, and we are confident that the combination of technology and conventional treatments will improve outcomes.”
Mr. Hashemi added: “There are two challenges in implementing a revolutionary weight loss program driven by cutting-edge therapies like Novo Nordisk. One is the cost of treatment is exorbitantly high. Two things that can happen are that the metabolic system simply does not respond to certain parts of the patient.
“In the face of these possibilities, it can be difficult for patients to make significant commitments to spend on these treatments and services. It is not possible to provide a results-based mechanism that essentially takes on the patient’s risk. , Helps lower recruitment hurdles and informs patients that paying for it will work. “
He concluded that: “This is the same as any other’guaranteed or refund’model that consumers are already accustomed to when it comes to purchasing goods and services. It was not widely adopted in healthcare because healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies were willing to put themselves at risk in this way. “
GluCare.Health’s weight management program is intended for individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher, who are considered obese with at least weight-related comorbidities. If you are interested in applying, you can apply by sending an email to negin@glucare.health and requesting a “risk” obesity program.
