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Finish Line: Last Discussion Marathon on the Drug Basket Committee | Israel today

2020-01-15T02:44:44.536Z


health


Over the next two days, committee members will make crucial decisions • Reached for final discussions: new treatments for diabetics and various blood cancer drugs • Obesity and migraine medication - outdoors

  • Pharmaceutical Committee // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

These are crucial days for patients in Israel: today and tomorrow, the Drug Basket Committee will convene for a marathon hearing - and last, after which the list of drugs and treatments that will receive public funding will be published.

About 900 drugs and technologies with a total cost of more than NIS 3.5 billion have been submitted to the committee this year, but it has NIS 500 million to add new drugs and technologies to the basket. The debate over the next two days will focus on about 200 drugs with an estimated cost of NIS 1.5 billion.

The Committee on Drugs submits its recommendations to the Prime Minister

The fateful decisions are made by 20 members of the public committee for the expansion of the drug basket, including representatives of the health funds, doctors, public representatives and representatives of the health and finance ministries. This year, the commission's work was particularly challenging, as the approval of the budget was delayed due to the political paralysis and the transition to the continuing budget.

Destiny discussions // Illustration photo: GettyImages

In addition, many pressures have been exerted this year on drug companies to lower drug prices to allow more drugs to be brought into the basket. Among other things, there have been extraordinary efforts that include signing "risk sharing" agreements with pharmaceutical companies, and negotiations conducted directly by the committee's chairman, Prof. Ze'ev Rothstein, earlier this week, as well as placing an ultimatum for companies to significantly reduce prices by 20% Even before the final hearings.

Among the most important drugs and technologies that have risen to the final discussions are: Completion of measles vaccine, mumps and rubella for non-vaccinated adults (this drug was rated the highest by the Commission), many drugs for the treatment of various cancerous tumors and blood cancer (including liposuction for cancer treatment Mutation, non-melanoma skin cancer libido, derelax for multiple myeloma patients, imbrobica for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia), pesnare for severe asthma, advanced cholesterol lowering drugs, new diabetic treatments, innovative gene therapy for the prevention of blindness, and drug resistant depression Fall in two previous medication did not help), and a blood test to pregnant women, to replace amniocentesis.

At the same time, genetic flooring tests are being conducted to tailor drug treatment to lung cancer patients, Zuljansma, "the world's most expensive drug," for muscular dystrophy, HIV-preventative therapy (PREP) for high-risk adults for virus infection, and a screening test to detect genetic mutation Risk of breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Rare Disease Drugs (Hereditary Angioedema, MPS IV-A Disease, Treatment of Congenital Disorders in Bile Acid Synthesis), and Extension of Survey Test for Cervical Cancer Detection for Young Women (Age 29-25).
Among the treatments that will not go into the drug basket this year: ADHD, obesity and migraine treatment, pediatric patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, contraceptive measures for women, eyewear for children up to age 8, adult cough vaccine, and diabetes monitoring technology for type 2 diabetics.

Due to the delay in deciding which drugs to approve, they are expected to be given to patients in the public basket only starting next month. As a result, a one-time budget of NIS 40 million was available for medicines that should have been given as of January. Part of this budget, as first published in Israel Today, will be used to conduct an experimental (pilot) program for early detection of lung cancer in smokers using low-intensity CT tests. These tests have been found to reduce lung cancer mortality by 26% to 40%.

Source: israelhayom

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