Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that causes decline in cognitive and physical function over time. In recent years, significant advancements have led to the development of disease-modifying therapies designed to slow progression. However, regulatory agencies and healthcare payers worldwide have taken differing views on these new treatments, and pharmaceutical companies have not yet marketed them consistently across all regions.
As a result, access remains highly fragmented and one interesting development is the onset of people travelling for treatment, or health tourism, for those that have the means. In this blog, ADI is highlighting the testimonies of those undertaking such health tourism across the world.
The first disease modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease was approved in the UK in August 2024, although not made publicly available through the National Health Service. Prior to this, a carer for a person living with Alzheimer’s disease recounts their experience of frequently travelling to Israel to access treatment:
My husband had a PET scan in September 2023, in London, which confirmed the diagnosis. We were then told that the new treatment was expected to come into effect March or April. In the event, the treatment kept being delayed, and by May-June, we decided to explore the options. In Israel, the treatment has been seamless, we both felt safe and well looked after and everything was efficient, requiring the minimum time. We are extremely grateful for that. Traveling, on the other hand, was extremely complicated as a war was going on and all flights had been cancelled other than Israeli airlines. We moved the treatment back to London when it finally became functional, at the end of December. It was a bit complicated and there have been teething problems, but going to Israel every 2 weeks had not been easy either. On hindsight, I wish we had started earlier, which we would have done had we known there would be so many delays to the treatment coming to London.
Similar examples of health tourism can be found in other parts of the world, with a doctor in Australia highlighting the cross-continental journey their patient took to access new treatments:
One of my patients, completely suitable for the new treatments, had to travel from Australia to New York to obtain the drug
Health tourism is not only restricted to high-income countries, with a testimony from a doctor in Ethiopia recounting their patient’s experience:
Access to newer Alzheimer’s disease medications is a growing issue in some of my patients who can afford it. One of my patients is in her late 60’s has had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease for 6 years and her husband brought her to my clinic in Ethiopia for better treatment. I informed them of the recent development in the field and they decided to travel to Switzerland where their daughter lives and take the available treatment.
On health tourism, ADI’s CEO Paola Barbarino said:
We are now seeing real examples of wealthy individuals travelling abroad to seek treatment, leading to huge inequities and a move towards a society where access to medications depends on income rather than need. What many people living with dementia want is a choice, the choice to be able to take a medication which may slow the progress of the condition, without the need to travel vast distances to do so, for what is a time critical stage of the condition. People cannot afford to wait and access should not be limited to those can afford it financially. These are not unreasonable requests and in the same circumstances, we would all expect the same.
ADI will continue to provide updates on the availability of treatments, worldwide. For more information on the availability of new treatments in your country, please contact your national association to find out more