MedAccess to scope opportunities to make mental health treatments more accessible and affordable

MedAccess today announced a new programme to explore market shaping solutions to boost access to affordable treatments for four mental health conditions – schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder – in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The programme will be funded by a $450,000 Wellcome Trust grant and carried out in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), supported by complementary funding.  

Mental health conditions affect more than one billion people globally. In LMICs, some 75% of people living with a mental health condition are typically unable to access treatment. Additionally, individuals often face increased stigma because their symptoms are untreated. When patients turn to the private market, a month’s treatment with a common antidepressant such as fluoxetine can cost more than a week’s wages. 

MedAccess will identify a shortlist of opportunities where market shaping tools could increase access to treatments in LMICs for the four conditions, starting with schizophrenia in 2026. In the initial phase, MedAccess will convene a global panel of medical professionals and people with lived experience of mental health conditions to identify potential products that could be safe and practical for use in low-resource settings. MedAccess and CHAI will investigate current barriers to access, such as price, national policies and regulations, and manufacturers’ appetite to supply in uncertain markets. The information will be used to develop the list of opportunities and market shaping strategies – including the use of volume guarantees – to improve access to treatment. 

“For people living with treatable mental health conditions, reliable access to those treatments is essential,” said MedAccess CEO Michael Anderson. “MedAccess is grateful to Wellcome for supporting our efforts to identify how and where market shaping can increase access to products for mental health. We are looking forward to hearing from experts, communities and, most importantly, those affected by mental health conditions as we begin the programme in the coming months.” 

CHAI’s closely aligned programme, also supported by Wellcome, seeks to generate local data in four priority countries about attitudes, ongoing activities and access challenges related to mental health treatment. CHAI and MedAccess will work closely to ensure their respective findings support each other’s work.