Innovative PAP
A Patient Assistance Program that reaches the patients a flat discount misses.
Why today's programs stop short, the philosophy behind ours, and exactly how the engine works — from assessment to a patient on therapy.
The problem
Southeast Asia's access gap is large — and growing.
Across targeted oncology, biologics and specialty therapies, SEA patients are reached at a fraction of mature-market rates.
Key challenges in SEA
- 01
Lack of reimbursement
Less than 5% of innovative therapies are publicly reimbursed.
- 02
Low private insurance
Under 10% hold private cover, and many policies exclude high-cost treatment.
- 03
No structured financing
Outside pharma PAPs there is no viable route to fund therapy.
- 04
HCP self-censorship
Physicians assume patients can't afford the best option — and don't prescribe it.
Access to innovative therapies — how SEA compares
- United States92 on a relative index of 100
- European Union84 on a relative index of 100
- Developed Asia70 on a relative index of 100
- Developing SEA42 on a relative index of 100
- Emerging SEA24 on a relative index of 100
Mature-market benchmark· Indicative, combined access across targeted oncology, biologics, specialty therapies and high-value vaccines.
A different philosophy
Equality gives everyone the same box. Equity gives everyone the same view.
Fixed-scheme programs treat every patient identically. Means-based programs size support to need — the right idea, held back until now by the wrong execution.
Equality
All patients receive a similar discount — 50% off, or buy-one-free-one — regardless of their ability to pay.
- Patient
- Many still can't afford treatment, even at the discounted price.
- Pharma
- Limited penetration and inefficient allocation of a finite budget.
- HCP
- Often unable to prescribe the best treatment for many patients.
Means-based is the right idea. The execution has been the problem — and that is exactly what VidaPocket fixes.
Why today's PAPs fall short
PAPs exist — but the industry has learned they have structural limits.
Flat discounts widen access but leave real value unrealised. A tiered model reaches more patients — sustainably.
How PAPs work today
- 1
Patient prescribed
HCP prescribes an innovative therapy and refers the patient to the PAP.
- 2
Paper-based application
Manual forms, submitted by hospital staff. Days to weeks of waiting.
- 3
Basic income check
A formal income validation — not a true needs assessment.
- 4
Flat discount applied
One discount for everyone, regardless of affordability.
- 5
No outcome tracking
Pharma has no visibility into completion, drop-out or ROI.
Not just oncology. This applies to any medicine where affordability is the barrier — biologics, specialty and chronic therapies alike.
Three structural limits
Limit 01
Paper-based and manual
Weeks to eligibility. Admin burden on hospital staff. A poor patient experience at the worst possible time.
Limit 02
Blunt means-testing
Income-only assessment over-discounts patients who could pay more — and misses those who genuinely cannot.
Limit 03
Revenue cannibalisation
Flat discounts compress net revenue without proportional volume gain. The maths rarely works.
How VidaPocket works
Three steps. One continuously improving engine.
Live assessment
Scoring affordability
- Income
- Assets
- Household
- Geography
- Behaviour
- + 15 more signals
Proprietary methodology — validated on 1,000+ respondents
The algorithm never stands still. Every assessment feeds back into the model, so tier boundaries and variable weights keep improving. The logic stays sound — and the discount allocation stays right.
Why VidaPocket
Traditional PAP vs. VidaPocket.
A flat discount treats every patient the same; VidaPocket sizes support to what each patient can pay.
20+
Affordability signals
Assets, household, geography, behaviour — not an income line on a form.
Self-improving
Every assessment retrains the model. The allocation keeps getting more accurate.
One platform, every source of support
Want to see what a tiered program would look like for your product and market?
How we work together
Flexible models, built around your program.
Co-create a pilot
We design the program together. We build, deploy and manage; you own the PAP funding envelope and eligibility criteria.
Best for teams with an existing asset and a market they want to go deeper in.
Timeline to value
Week 1–2
Align on program design
Week 3–4
Program configuration
Week 5–6
Pilot launch
Week 8+
First patients onboarded
- VidaPocket provides
- Platform · Means-testing · Patient support · Reporting
- You provide
- PAP funding · Eligibility criteria · Brand-team access
Plug into your existing PAP
Integrate VidaParse into your current program. Upgrade the means-testing without rebuilding what already works.
Best for programs that work operationally but leave patients — and value — on the table.
Timeline to value
Week 1–2
Align on program design
Week 3–4
Program configuration
Week 5–6
Pilot launch
Week 8+
First patients onboarded
- VidaPocket provides
- Platform · Means-testing · Patient support · Reporting
- You provide
- PAP funding · Eligibility criteria · Brand-team access
Full program build
New product launch or market entry. We design, build and operate the complete PAP infrastructure.
Best for launches where access strategy is being designed from scratch.
Timeline to value
Week 1–2
Align on program design
Week 3–4
Program configuration
Week 5–6
Pilot launch
Week 8+
First patients onboarded
- VidaPocket provides
- Platform · Means-testing · Patient support · Reporting
- You provide
- PAP funding · Eligibility criteria · Brand-team access
Let's design your program together.
One call. Your program, product or funding challenge. A tailored proposal in return.
Built for
- Pharma
- Ministries of Health
- Banks & fintech
- Charities
- Hospitals
- Distributors
- Pharma
- Ministries of Health
- Banks & fintech
- Charities
- Hospitals
- Distributors
- Pharma
- Ministries of Health
- Banks & fintech
- Charities
- Hospitals
- Distributors