Availability of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases: a scoping review of challenges and opportunities.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Given the critical role of medicines in reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), we analysed factors that hinder the availability of quality medicines for managing NCDs at the point of service delivery, with a particular focus on low-income and middle-income countries.

Methods

In this scoping review, literature published in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the World Bank eLibrary and the WHO's Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (WHO IRIS) was collected (January 2009-May 2025). Literature was excluded if it did not specifically address NCD medicines, discussed global rather than national determinants of availability only, failed to detail supply chain inefficiencies or exclusively reported on other dimensions of access (ie, pricing/af

SUBMITTER: Joosse IR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666150 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature