Pharmaceutical News
Resumption of treatment possible next year for HCV patients with F1 and F2 fibrosis levels
2019/12/27

National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Deputy Director General Tsai Shu-ling said that due to budget depletion, the government announced on July 23 that National Health Insurance reimbursement of oral direct-acting antiviral treatments for HCV will be halted. Although the NHIA announced the resumption of reimbursement on Sept. 20, HCV patients in the earlier F1 and F2 stages of liver fibrosis were excluded, resulting in interruption of their regimens. Later, the Pharmaceutical Benefit and Reimbursement Scheme Joint committee (PBRS) decided that beginning Jan. 1, 2020, HCV patients with earlier-stage fibrosis levels (F1 through F4) will be eligible to receive reimbursed treatments, benefitting an estimated 58,000 patients.

Apart from HCV, the criteria for NHIA-covered immunotherapy (IO) treatments for urothelial carcinoma has also been expanded. Patients with eGFR readings between 30 and 60 are now eligible for NHI-covered IO treatments, up from the 60 eGFR required.

In addition, the PBRS has also approved a motion to provide NHI coverage for spinal muscular atrophy treatments. Patients of the rare pediatric disorder who become symptomatic between the ages of one and six will be eligible for NHI-covered treatments. The change is expected to benefit around 30 patients of the rare disorder in the first year of NHI coverage.

 

【2019-12-19 / China Times】