Four orphan drugs will be added to Thailand's national drug list to ensure patients' access to medicines for rare diseases.
 
          On Aug 2, the National Health Security Board approved in principle the inclusion of the drugs in category E(2) , a subcategory of drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
 
          category E(2) includes the orphan drug list and the target priority medicines’ policy list in order to organise the highest level of accessible and equitable drug possible and protect public safety. The orphan drugs required in a few numbers of patients. The prescription of these drugs requires special expertise or involves advancing technology, "and" their prices are high or costly for the society. 
 
          In addition, doctors must prescribe these drugs under an authorized system monitored by relevant government offices, including the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Comptroller General's Department, Ministry of Finance, Social Security Office, Ministry of Labours.
 
          Dr Jakkrit Ngowsiri, the NHSO deputy secretary-general, revealed that the four drugs are:
Imatinib, an oral chemotherapy medication used in cancer treatment.
 
          Dasatinib, a medication used for the treatment of certain cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
 
          Tocilizumab, an immunosuppressive drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis which is a severe form of arthritis in children.  
 
          Ceftazidime/avibactam, a medication used for the treatment of bacterial infections. 
Imatinib and Dasatinib will be prescribed to child patients with Philadelphia Chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL), a rare subtype of the most common childhood cancer. 
 
          Tocilizumab will be used in child patients aged more than two years who have systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and whose conditions are not improved with other types of medical treatments.  
 
          Ceftazidime/avibactam will be provided to patients with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae who have resistance to colistin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. 
 
          Dr Jakkrit said the availability of these drugs would save the lives of at least 316 patients covered by the Universal Coverage Scheme. 
 
          The NHSO will procure the drugs, cost around 77 million baht, and distribute them to hospitals treating these patients.