According to the Formosa Cancer Foundation, the death rate of lung cancer in Taiwan seems to be in a decline; and the availability of precision target therapies is one of the key factors.  The Foundation appreciates the NHIA’s decision of including new drugs for treating advanced lung cancer into the NHI Benefit Scheme.  It allows doctors to have more treatment tools and, hence, gives patients new hope.  Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia to provide public funded precision target therapies for advanced lung cancer.

The Foundation invited patients’ families to share their experiences and to express their gratitude for the availability of NHI-reimbursed drugs for advanced lung cancer.  The Foundation tries to boost cancer patients’ confidence in treatments.  Dr Lai Gi-Ming, CEO of the Formosa Cancer Foundation, expressed that although lung cancer has been among the leading causes of cancer death in Taiwan for 10 years, the mortality rate has actually declined for the first time in the past five years. 

Dr Lai expressed that this achievement is attributed to the advance in treatment technology and the NHIA’s decision of providing drugs for advanced non-small cell lung cancer for first-line treatment.  “Despite the financial stress, the NHIA has specifically identified the need of the most meaningful patient group and provided them with new drugs for first line treatment. Taiwan is the first country to make this possible,” said Dr Lai.

The Foundation continued that the NHIA’s decision has allowed patients to access advanced treatment which costs NT$1.5 million per patient per year. The Foundation hopes that the success would give patients confidence in continuing the treatments and to further increase the 5-year survival rate.

【2020-04-28 / RTI】