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Budget of 44 Million Baht Approved to Expand Access to Essential High-Cost Drugs under UC Scheme
Budget of 44 Million Baht Approved to Expand Access to Essential High-Cost Drugs under UC Scheme
The National Health Security Office Board (NHSB) approved a 44-million-baht budget allocation for essential high-cost medicines under the National List of Essential Medicines to treat cancer, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and ischemic stroke.
The approval was decided during the NHSOboard’s meeting on February 21.
Dr Cholnan Srikaew, Public Health Minister and Chairman of the NHSB, revealed that the board had acknowledged the necessity for expanding the coverage of six essential high-cost drugs for patients covered by the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS).
To help patients access them, the NHSO approved a budget allocation for drug procurement, totaling 44.326 million baht in the 2024 fiscal year.
These drugs have been recently added to the E2 category of high-cost medicines for specific conditions under the National List of Essential Medicines, allowing the Thai government to purchase them for the public benefit.
These drugs have been recently added to the E2 category of high-cost medicines for specific conditions under the National List of Essential Medicines, allowing the Thai government to purchase them for the public benefit.
They consist of two groups: existing drugs with added conditions and new drugs. The first includes four types of drugs, which are;
● Adalimumab for treating arthritis without associated systemic symptoms in children.
● Rituximab for treating follicular lymphoma in an extensive stage.
● Trastuzumab for treating early-stage breast cancer with no metastasis to the axillary lymph node but with a tumor size of more than two centimeters.
● Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for treatment of multiple-site nervous inflammation and autoimmune encephalitis.
New drugs include two types of drugs, which are;
● Bortezomib for treating multiple myeloma that meets the criteria for bone marrow transplantation.
● Ethiodized oil is to be used in combination with chemotherapy for liver cancer or used as a mixing agent with cyanoacrylate glue for endovascular interventions.
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NHSO Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee stated that all drugs mentioned, except ethiodized oil, will be procured through a joint procurement process.
Only ethiodized oil will be purchased through the diagnosis-related group reimbursement.
Only ethiodized oil will be purchased through the diagnosis-related group reimbursement.
The total estimated budget for all these drugs is approximately 75 million baht.
However, 44 million of this estimated cost will be allocated from March to September before the end of fiscal year 2024.
However, 44 million of this estimated cost will be allocated from March to September before the end of fiscal year 2024.
The budget will be utilized from savings obtained from the joint procurement plan for the same fiscal year.
"These six drugs are categorized as expensive drugs, which were previously a significant barrier to patient access to treatment,” said Dr Jadej.
“After the National Essential Medicines List Committee certified their treatment efficacy, the NHSO promptly procured them for Universal Coverage Scheme patients.
This will ensure the most comprehensive and widespread access to treatment."
This will ensure the most comprehensive and widespread access to treatment."
