adminIn an interview after a tour of the company’s production plant in Turku, Finland recently, president of the corporate commercial relations with Bayer HealthCare Mr Klaus Brill said the cost of Jadelle implants had gone down from US$18 to US$8.50 a unit.
He said more than 80 developing countries including Zimbabwe had already started buying the drugs at a reduced price.
He said the reduction of Jadelle implants was effected in January this year and was expected to run for the next six years.
“During this period, we anticipate that about 27 million implants would have been distributed throughout the world,” said Mr Brill.
Jadelle implants offer long-acting, reversible contraception for women. Two thin, flexible rods are inserted just under the skin of a woman’s upper, inner arm in a minor surgical procedure.
Protection from pregnancy is provided within 24 hours and gives protection up to five years.
Earlier, the company’s head of supply centre Mr Peter Essen had told journalists that the company looked forward to doubling the production of implants due to increased demand worldwide.
He said this year alone they aimed to produce 3,2 million jadelle implants up from the previously committed three million for the year.
According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survery 2010-2011 about 211 000 married women are failing to prevent pregnancies because of limited choices, lack of knowledge and side effects to the limited range.
Government intends to reduce this unmet need of family planning from 13 percent to 6,5 percent and increase the use of modern contraceptives from 59 percent to 68 percent by 2020.
If this goal is achieved, it is expected to avert about 780 000 unintended pregnancies, 110 500 unsafe abortions and 4 200 maternal deaths.
Online Reporter