Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan. To align with international treatment trends and reduce the financial burden on patients, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) has announced expanded coverage for two targeted therapies. Beginning in February, the previous 36-week reimbursement cap on first-line treatments cetuximab and panitumumab has been removed. These medications may now be used continuously until disease progression or the need to switch to second-line therapy, shifting from a fixed treatment duration to a more individualized approach based on disease status. The policy is expected to benefit approximately 1,286 patients annually. The annual drug cost is estimated at NT$920,000 to NT$1.16 million per patient.
Furthermore, starting in March, colorectal cancer patients with the BRAF V600E mutation will be eligible for a newly covered second-line dual targeted therapy combining encorafenib and cetuximab. Compared with the current standard treatment, the new regimen extends progression-free survival by 2.8 months and overall survival by 3.4 months. The annual drug cost is approximately NT$2.4 million, and an estimated 262 patients are expected to benefit each year.
The NHIA said the revisions were based on patients’ need for continued treatment and evidence-based, cost-effective evaluations, and were approved by the Pharmaceutical Benefits and Reimbursement Scheme Joint Committee. NHIA Director General Chen Liang-yu said the agency is aligning with international treatment guidelines and expanding coverage of new drugs to strengthen ongoing cancer care. Through a Power BI dashboard integrating screening and treatment data, the NHIA tracks patients’ care pathways, flags cases lacking timely diagnosis or treatment, and assists hospitals in following up with individuals who test positive. In 2024, 78% of people who tested positive in colorectal cancer screening received timely colonoscopies, and 91% of those diagnosed with suspected precancerous lesions or cancer underwent treatment.
[2025-02-07/China Times]
