Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41540590›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of technology assessment in health care2026

Navigating market access after conditional reimbursement: a communication roadmap for disinvesting orphan drugs.

Khadidja Abdallah, Alessandra Blonda, Brian Godman, Isabelle Huys, Kathleen Claes, Yvonne Denier, Steven Simoens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of technology assessment in health care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Khadidja AbdallahPharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Alessandra BlondaPharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3878-0706
Brian GodmanStrathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6539-6972
Isabelle HuysPharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Kathleen ClaesMicrobiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Yvonne DenierPublic Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Steven SimoensPharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.

Funding

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek G0B9819N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDisinvesting from rare disease therapies with persistent clinical uncertainties following a managed entry agreement (MEA) may be necessary to ensure an equitable and sustainable healthcare system. To minimize public controversy, communication surrounding such disinvestment decisions must be timely, transparent, and tailored to stakeholder needs. This study develops a structured communication roadmap for disinvestment decisions in the Belgian context, addressing the clinical, financial, ethical, psychological, and social implications.

methodsThree advisory board meetings were conducted with nine experts from academia, clinical practice, health insurance funds, patient organizations, and the Belgian Drug Reimbursement Committee. A targeted review of peer-reviewed literature, legal texts, and policy documents informed the discussion guide. Meetings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using NVivo 14, following grounded theory principles.

resultsDisinvestment decisions should be evidence-based and communicated clearly and pragmatically in a context-specific manner. The proposed five-step roadmap defines the roles, responsibilities, and timelines of key stakeholders and provides guidance for public-facing documents, including a lay summary of the health technology reassessment report and written communications for patients and the public. Effective and timely communication with patients requires close collaboration among stakeholders. Moreover, regular engagement with healthcare providers and patients throughout the MEA period can enhance understanding and acceptance of the final decision.

conclusionsTransparent, collaborative, and adaptable communication strategies can facilitate the implementation of disinvestment decisions and help maintain trust among patients and the public. Although developed for rare disease therapies in Belgium, the proposed principles and roadmap are applicable to disinvestment processes in other healthcare systems.

Indexed as

CommunicationOrphan Drug ProductionReimbursement MechanismsBelgiumDecision MakingHumansInsurance, Health, ReimbursementRare DiseasesTechnology Assessment, Biomedicaldisinvestmenthealth technology reassessmentorphan drugrare diseaseresource allocation

Identifiers

PMID41540590
PMCPMC12916244

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.