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We offer opportunities for MECFA members by supporting programs that lead to improved health outcomes for patients in the region. We focus on improving education among clinicians, allied health professionals, patients and families. Our programs support initiatives to provide CF essential drugs and equipment for patients through advocacy. We donate diagnostic equipment and offer genetic testing for our member countries. 

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How to apply for support

Only MECFA members can apply for support. Please complete a Membership application if you are not already a member of MECFA. Go here 

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Please submit a program proposal and budget attention to

MECFA Medical and Scientific Committee info@mecfa.org.

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Program proposals should contain the following.

1. Summary *please include amount you are requesting from MECFA

2. Need for Program

3. Program Key Goals

4. Program Methodology

5. Program Agenda/Timeline/Milestones

6. Expected Outcomes

7. Budget

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What MECFA will support;
 

• Participation in education programs that include Quality Improvement projects, training of CF teams and development of CF Care Centers

• Attendance to the Middle East CF Conference

• Programs that open access to CF essential drugs and equipment

  • This includes support lobbying of MoH and health officials to ensure long term access for all patients. 

• Donations of Diagnostics and specialized diagnostic training both praticle and clinical.  

• Genetic Testing provided by the Prague University Hospital Motol in the Czech Republic. 

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MECFA begins working in a country through our members who are clinicians and allied health professionals working with CF from this region. 

The first step is to evaluate each country and create a profile to determine the situation and what needs to be done to improve patient’s health outcomes. Each country will begin at level 1, 2 or 3 depending on their situation. An evaluation is carried out through surveys and discussion with MECFA member clinicians to determine their level and the support we will provide. 

Level 1
A MECFA member clinician who is treating CF and working in a government funded hospital. It is ideal if the hospital is a university hospital with a pediatric pulmonology department. The clinician should have experience treating CF, have been trained in a country that follows US and EU standards of CF Care and actively attending international conferences, workshops and if possible, published in CF. It is helpful if the clinician has a relationship with the Ministry of Health and with the hospital administration. 

Support for level 1

1.  Assist member to form a committee to include MoH/Drug Administration, clinicians, a family/pt. representative, hospital administration and MECFA advocacy committee. 

2.  Assist member to form a CF team to include Pulmonologist, nurse, physio, nutritionist, microbiologist, and psychotherapist.

3.  Assist member and hospital administration to set up inpatient and outpatient rooms within the pulmonology department of the hospital. 

4. Donate diagnostic equipment and set up basic patient data collection. 

5. Provide CF diagnostic education and technical training to clinicians and technicians. 

Level 2
Diagnostics are available and provided freely to patients. A MECFA member clinicians and CF team exists and is working closely with the hospital administration to improve CF care. They are connected to the Ministry of Health and advocating on behalf of patients. There is a basic pt. data collection system in place. 

Support for level 2

1.  Support forming a CF committee to include MoH, Clinicians, Pt/family, hospital admin, and Pharmaceutical arm of the MoH. 

2. Match the CF center with a MECFA training Center (at this stage, the training center can begin virtual training to establish a center, provide basic guidance)

3. Support existing/developing local family network/group to assist with lobbying.

4. Implement the MECFA advocacy strategy and actively lobby for a short list of essential therapies and equipment. This includes sending members of the MECFA advocacy committee to open conversations with MoH to cover the basic therapies for patients. 

5.  Enroll the country in the MECFA Access Program. 

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Level 3
Diagnostics are available and provided freely to patients. A MECFA member clinician and CF team exists and is working closely with the hospital administration to improve CF care. They are connected to the Ministry of Health and advocating on behalf of patients. There is a basic pt. data collection system in place. The center has been matched with a MECFA training center and begun basic training in preparation for Quality Improvement Program (based on MAMI program). Patients have access to the MECFA short list of recommended drugs and equipment and care is covered by state or private insurance. 

Support for level 3

1. Enroll the team in a 2-year QI training. 

2. Support team members to attend MECFA annual conference (present abstracts, speaker, and attendee)

3. Fund QI research projects resulting from the QI training program.

4.  Support pt. and family organization through social media awareness and fundraising campaigns.

5.  Continued support advocating on behalf of patients and families to ensure continued access to free care and essential therapies. 

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What MECFA Programs will not support;

 

• Salaries for clinicians and allied health professionals. 

  • We will include efforts to lobby for greater support of existing staff at partner hospitals if deemed necessary.   

• Reconstruction/Decorations/Furniture

• Office supplies

• Technical Equipment 

• Research projects 

  • MECFA offers small research grants and supports young investigators. Please email Christine at cnoke@mecfa.org to learn more about future research opportunities.

• Direct costs of patient care

• Small private medication/equipment donation to individual patients

• Costs for the establishment of CF registries​

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