Takeda takes major step in women's health

Takeda takes significant step, signs partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to improve breast cancer care. Taking an important step in women's health in Turkey, Takeda will support the Value Based Health Care (VBHC) project, a joint initiative of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF). The application of the VBHC project to breast cancer aims to achieve better health outcomes for patients. Operating at the international level, Takeda played a role in bringing to life the project that demonstrates a different approach to our health system in breast cancer through value-based health services. Through this project, in alignment with Turkey's 12th Development Plan, Takeda emphasizes the need to transition within the health system from traditional fee-for-service models to a Value Based Health Care (VBHC) approach that prioritizes quality in healthcare. Emphasizing the need to transition to value-based systems to make health systems more sustainable, efficient and patient-focused, Takeda proposes a strategic approach beginning with the collection of comprehensive health data. The company actively contributes to this important change by establishing partnerships with international organizations to support the project. The Value Based Health Care Project (VBHC) currently being implemented in Turkey focuses on breast cancer, aiming to identify and reduce delays in early screening, diagnosis and surgical treatment for breast cancer. Takeda Turkey General Manager Ömür Mangaloğlu evaluated this important development. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), taking an important step towards sustainable and equitable health systems, reached a joint agreement with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey and launched value-based approach projects in breast cancer with the Faculty of Medicine at Marmara University and the Faculty of Medicine at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University. A VBHC Technical Commission was established as part of the project and a joint vision statement was issued. Takeda Turkey General Manager Ömür Mangaloğlu made statements evaluating this important development. Mangaloğlu stated: "As Takeda Turkey, we are delighted to be part of projects supporting health systems. The Turkish health system today succeeds in providing social and comprehensive health services by allocating the least resources among OECD countries. We agree with our government on increasing the resources allocated to health. The Turkish health system, through increased resources and efficiency gains that will be achieved through a value-based health care approach, can become one of the world's leading health systems. The project's innovative and value-based health care approach has created a foundation for future different efforts related to cancer. We hope for the continuation of collaborations that develop our sector at the global level."

Research conducted on 750 breast cancer patients

Within the scope of the project, using a VBHC model, barriers causing diagnostic and treatment delays are being addressed and efforts are being made to improve the quality of healthcare services in breast cancer in women. Through the study titled 'Etiological reasons for diagnostic and treatment delays in locally advanced breast cancer', research has been conducted since its inception on more than 750 locally advanced breast cancer patients across 37 health centers and 7 regions in Turkey.

Lack of awareness is one of the most important problems

Preliminary findings of these studies show that approximately half of the patients did not know how to perform breast self-examination, while fear of death and lack of awareness were identified as the most important reasons for delays in patients seeking medical care. Doubts regarding possible side effects of treatment were recorded as the most important reason for delays in chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. In the next phase of the project, it is aimed to overcome the identified challenges and develop interventions using a value-based health approach to improve the quality of breast cancer care for women in Turkey.