Following National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean Kang Jaw-jou’s appeal to hold a third round of national forum on pharmaceutical drug policy to facilitate reforms, other experts and stakeholders have also voiced support for reforms.

Taiwan Society of Regulatory Affairs for Medical Products Chairperson Hsiao Mei-ling said that national pharmaceutical drug policy forums should be held regularly to track progress towards set targets. An independent think tank should also be set up to support decision making regarding National Health Insurance (NHI) issues. On the allocation of the NHI global budget towards drug expenditure, the adoption of generics and biosimilars should be encouraged to redirect cost savings towards introducing new drugs to strike a balance between ensuring patient choice and financial sustainability.

Taiwan Alliance of Patients’ Organizations President Wu Hong-lai also voiced support to hold regular pharmaceutical drug policy forums, while recommending that health technology reassessment (HTR) should be conducted alongside health technology assessment (HTA). President Wu noted that patients should participate in the HTR and provide their feedback, as to prevent the process from becoming another tool to cut NHI expenditure. Separately, instead of exploring whether private health insurance could supplement the NHI, the better implementation of the copayment system should be prioritized. In neighboring Japan, similar discussions on revamping the copayment system have also been raised and could provide a valuable example for Taiwan to follow.

Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders founder and Chairperson Serena Chen said that by overlooking the disadvantage group of rare disease patients, the NHI has failed to meet its main objective and purpose. As the NHI prioritizes its finances at the cost of rare disease patients, the system is increasingly becoming a form of private health insurance. Therefore, the NHI must reexamine its missteps and improve access to orphan drugs. It is hoped that through patient participation in the national forum on pharmaceutical drug policy, the knowledge gap between patients and physicians can be reduced, Chairperson Chen said.

[2022-11-1/Storm Media]