How does access to healthcare affect the patient journey with ALL?

Yervand Hakobyan, North Macedonia

Know ALL was pleased to speak to Yervand Hakobyan, Armenian Hematology Association, Armenia. We asked, "How does access to healthcare affect the patient journey with ALL?"

Hakobyan begins by discussing how access to healthcare can be a multi-level problem for patients, starting with appointment availability and office hours. In some countries, hematology centres may be very far from smaller cities and villages, which can make regular appointments difficult.

Then, he explains how access to therapies and diagnostics can vary between countries, which can lead to delays in treatment. Stem cell transplant can be very difficult to access in some countries, with the high cost limiting access to this treatment for many patients. Hakobyan also discusses the difficulties in accessing clinical trials.