Lung cancer patients who have been confirmed with EGFR mutation are eligible for NHI-reimbursed targeted therapies.  Considering that this genetic test may be too expensive for some patients, the NHIA decided to include this test in the NHI Benefit Scheme.  From November, genetic test reports done by accredited labs will be required for the prescription of the three NHI-reimbursed targeted therapies for lung cancer.

Tsai Shu-Ling, the Deputy Director-General of the NHIA, expressed that drug companies used to pay for the genetic tests for some patients, hence pushing up drug prices. In order to ensure the test quality and to support the development of precision medicine, the NHIA has consulted with drug companies and decided to start reimbursing the EGFR genetic tests done by accredited labs.  The new regulation took effect from September.

The NHIA announced the revision of the reimbursement regulation of the targeted therapies for lung cancer, making accredited laboratories’ EGFR genetic test reports a requirement for the NHI reimbursement for Iressa, Giotrif and Tarceva.

According to Dr Chen Jin-Shin of the NTUH, for patients who are not able to afford the genetic test, doctors used to decide whether to prescribe targeted therapies simply based on clinical experiences.  Under such circumstances, treatment effects are hard to predict and the reimbursement claims could be rejected.  Therefore, the NHI’s revision of the reimbursement regulation is welcomed by doctors as it protects patients’ rights and helps doctors to make better prescriptions.

Dr Chen Chung-Yu also commented that the new regulation will help those with financial difficulties to access targeted therapies. The new regulation also requires the tests to be done by accredited labs to further ensure the credibility of the test results.

【2019-10-01 / United Daily News】