Introduction
Hospital procurement teams are facing increasing challenges when sourcing specialised medicines.
The rapid growth of precision medicine, targeted oncology therapies, orphan drugs, and advanced biologics has created situations where clinicians identify an appropriate treatment, but the medicine is not yet commercially available through traditional procurement channels.
In many cases, procurement professionals assume that if a medicine is not locally registered or available through standard wholesalers, there are no viable alternatives.
However, this is not always the case.
One of the most underutilised mechanisms in global healthcare procurement is the Named Patient Programme (NPP) — a legal framework that allows healthcare providers to access medicines for individual patients when conventional supply pathways cannot meet clinical needs.
At Curiance Biotech, we regularly work with hospitals, oncology centres, and healthcare institutions across multiple regions, and we continue to see significant opportunities for procurement teams to make better use of this pathway.
What Is a Named Patient Programme?
A Named Patient Programme (NPP) is a regulatory mechanism that allows a physician to request a medicine for a specific patient when that medicine is:
- Not commercially available in the country
- Not yet registered locally
- Temporarily unavailable through standard supply chains
- Inaccessible due to market limitations
The medicine is supplied for one identified patient based on a physician’s prescription and medical justification.
Named Patient Programmes are recognised in various forms by health authorities worldwide.
Depending on the country, they may also be referred to as:
- Named Patient Supply
- Special Access Programme
- Compassionate Use Programme
- Unlicensed Medicine Supply
- Expanded Access Programme
While terminology varies, the underlying objective remains the same: ensuring patients can access medically necessary treatment when standard procurement pathways are insufficient.
Why Procurement Teams Should Understand NPP Pathways
Traditionally, hospital procurement focuses on:
- Registered medicines
- Approved vendor lists
- National tenders
- Standard wholesalers
These remain essential procurement channels.
However, modern oncology and rare disease treatment increasingly involve therapies that may not fit neatly into traditional procurement systems.
Examples include:
- Newly approved targeted therapies
- Orphan medicines
- Precision oncology treatments
- Specialised biologics
- Gene-based therapies
When clinicians identify a treatment that falls into one of these categories, procurement teams need additional options.
Named Patient Programmes provide that flexibility.
Oncology Is Driving Increased Demand
The rise of molecular testing has transformed cancer care.
Today, treatment decisions are increasingly guided by genetic biomarkers rather than tumour location alone.
This has created demand for highly specialised medicines that may not always be readily available through conventional supply chains.
Examples include therapies targeting:
- EGFR mutations
- ALK rearrangements
- ROS1 alterations
- HER2 pathways
- MET amplification
One frequently discussed example is Osimertinib, which has become an important treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
In some regions, procurement teams encounter situations where patient demand exists before local commercial availability or reimbursement pathways are fully established.
Named Patient Programmes can help bridge these access gaps legally and compliantly.
Common Situations Where NPPs Can Help
Delayed Regulatory Approval
A medicine may already be approved and widely used in other countries but still awaiting local registration.
NPP pathways can provide interim access for eligible patients.
Supply Shortages
Temporary shortages can occur due to manufacturing interruptions or distribution challenges.
Named Patient sourcing may help maintain continuity of care.
Rare Diseases
Many orphan medicines serve very small patient populations and may not justify full commercial launch in every market.
Precision Oncology
Personalised therapies often serve relatively small groups of biomarker-positive patients.
Traditional procurement models are not always optimised for these low-volume, high-clinical-value medicines.
Compliance Remains Critical
One misconception is that Named Patient Programmes operate outside regulatory frameworks.
The opposite is true.
Well-structured NPP pathways are highly regulated and typically require:
Physician Prescription
A licensed physician must identify the patient and prescribe the medicine.
Medical Justification
The request must be based on genuine clinical need.
Patient-Specific Supply
Medicines are supplied only for the named patient.
Documentation
Import permits, invoices, quality certificates, and supporting regulatory documentation may be required.
Approved Supply Sources
Medicines must originate from legitimate and quality-assured manufacturers and distributors.
For procurement teams, compliance should always remain the top priority when evaluating NPP suppliers.
What Procurement Teams Should Look For in a Supplier
Choosing the right partner is critical.
Important evaluation criteria include:
Regulatory Expertise
The supplier should understand country-specific import and regulatory requirements.
Quality Assurance
Look for suppliers working with WHO-GMP-certified manufacturers and documented quality systems.
International Logistics Experience
Speciality medicines often require careful shipping, documentation, and customs management.
Transparency
Pricing, documentation, and supply timelines should be clearly communicated.
Track Record
Experience handling oncology medicines and complex international shipments is valuable.
At Curiance Biotech, our team supports hospitals and healthcare providers by managing these operational and regulatory complexities, allowing clinicians to focus on patient care.
Benefits for Hospitals and Healthcare Institutions
When used appropriately, Named Patient Programmes can provide significant benefits.
Improved Patient Access
Patients gain access to treatments that may otherwise be unavailable.
Greater Clinical Flexibility
Physicians can pursue evidence-based treatment options without being limited solely by local commercial availability.
Continuity of Care
Patients already receiving a therapy can continue treatment even when supply disruptions occur.
Support for Precision Medicine
NPP pathways align well with modern personalised treatment approaches.
Challenges Procurement Teams Should Anticipate
While NPPs offer significant advantages, challenges exist.
Documentation Requirements
Additional paperwork is often required compared with routine procurement.
Variable Regulations
Each country has unique requirements.
Longer Timelines
International sourcing may require additional coordination.
Stakeholder Alignment
Successful implementation often requires collaboration between:
- Clinicians
- Pharmacists
- Procurement teams
- Regulatory departments
Planning ahead can minimise delays.
The Growing Importance of Procurement in Precision Medicine
Healthcare procurement is evolving.
Historically, procurement focused primarily on cost, volume, and inventory management.
Today, procurement professionals increasingly play a strategic role in enabling access to advanced therapies.
As precision medicine expands, procurement teams will need greater familiarity with:
- Special access pathways
- International sourcing frameworks
- Regulatory flexibility mechanisms
- Patient-specific procurement models
Named Patient Programmes represent one of the most important tools within this evolving landscape.
Why Awareness Remains Low
Despite their value, many procurement professionals receive little formal training on Named Patient frameworks.
This creates a knowledge gap.
As a result:
- Opportunities may be missed
- Access may be delayed
- Clinicians may assume medicines are unavailable when legal pathways exist
Increasing awareness and education around NPPs could significantly improve patient access in many healthcare systems.
Conclusion
Named Patient Programmes are not a replacement for standard procurement pathways.
However, they are an important complement—particularly in oncology, rare diseases, and precision medicine.
As treatment innovation continues to outpace traditional commercial availability, procurement teams that understand and effectively utilise NPP frameworks will be better positioned to support clinicians and improve patient access.
At Curiance Biotech, we believe that access to treatment should not be limited by geography or administrative complexity. By helping hospitals, oncology centres, and healthcare institutions navigate Named Patient pathways compliantly and efficiently, we aim to support the broader goal of improving global access to specialised medicines.
For procurement professionals, understanding Named Patient Programmes may become one of the most valuable tools in modern healthcare sourcing.
