Reported by Lee Shu-Jen from Taipei
Since the MOHW included the new oral drugs for hepatitis C into the NHI Benefit Scheme last year, 9538 patients with genotype-1 hepatitis C virus have benefited the new treatments. This year, the MOHW decides to expand this program by including new drugs for genotype-2 hepatitis virus into the NHI Benefit Scheme and increasing the availability to 16,440 patients with 670 places allocated to aboriginal communities.
The latest data shows that, as of March 6th, 6557 patients have already received the treatments of the new oral drugs for hepatitis C, including 3208 patients with genotype-1 virus and 3101 patients with genotype-2 virus.
Dr Lee Po-Chang, Director-General of the NHIA, expressed that the 2018 budget for hepatitis C treatment is increased to NT$4.936 billon, covering treatments of new oral drugs and interferon therapies. This year, total 16,440 patients are expected to benefit from the new oral drug treatment.
Dr Lee Po-Chang stated that as the new oral drug for hepatitis C is very expensive and the budget is limited, the treatment will firstly be given to patient diagnosed with at least stage 3 liver fibrosis. However, the reimbursement regulation will be relaxed gradually. The NHI Drug Dispensing Items and Fee Schedule Joint Establishment Meeting has agreed to extend the treatments to genotype 1, 4, 5 and 6 virus and to relax the reimbursement regulation to include patients diagnosed with stage 2 liver fibrosis.
Dr Lee Po-Chang expressed that only 4% of patients failed to complete the new oral drug treatment program. Among those who completed the treatment, the cure rate was about 99% which is much higher than the 74% cure rate of conventional treatments.
【2018-02-26/United Daily News】
