Pharmaceutical News
Experts urge for third national forum on pharmaceutical drug policy
2022/10/28

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean Kang Jaw-jou recently urged the government to hold a third national forum on pharmaceutical drug policy to facilitate forward looking discussions on reforms to Taiwan’s pharmaceutical drug policy. Dean Kang’s appeal has drawn resounding support from other stakeholders and experts.

On pharmaceutical drug policy, Psoriasis Association Taiwan Secretary General Wang Ya-hsin recommended that authorities improve the transparency of the National Health Insurance’s (NHI) decision-making process and reduce uncertainty for patients. The Health Technology Assessment process should include wider consideration of patients’ feedback and real-world evidence. Hope Foundation for Cancer Care Chairman Wang Cheng-hsu also suggested the government to initiate cross-departmental talks on leveraging private insurance as a supplement to National Health Insurance, as well as working to better implement the 20 percent copayment requirement while placing an annual cap on copayments. Chairman Wang also urged the NHI to consider real world data in decisions over the phasing out of drugs.

Chinese Association for Pharmaceutical Agents Chairperson Linda Sheng said that the NHI global budget must allocate more funds towards new drug every year to meet the demands of patients. She said that although NT$2.03 billion was allocated to the new drug budget for 2022, as of June, only NT$86 million has been utilized. However, the National Health Insurance Administration has repeatedly refused or delayed appeals to reimburse new drugs and new indications on account of the NHI’s strained finances. As a result, patients’ rights to health have been harmed, while also hampering the government’s goal to promote the biotechnology sector. Further, Chairperson Sheng said that the Health Technology Reassessment (HTR) process should take wider consideration of physicians and patients, rather than being used as a tool for the government to slash drug prices.

[2022-10-25/Storm Media]