200 treatments, half a billion shekels: everything you need to know about the medicine basket
The 21 members of the committee begin the marathon of discussions that will continue until Friday, in preparation for the approval of the drugs and technologies to be subsidized. What is the composition of the committee? How will the discussions be conducted? What drugs came to the final exam and what does anyone who is interested in a drug not in the basket do? The complete guide
200 treatments, half a billion shekels: everything you need to know about the medicine basket
Photo: Knesset Channel, edited by Asaf Drury(Video: Emergency Conference on the Knesset's Drug Basket Budget, December)
After lengthy hearings that received an unusual media echo, the Drug Basket Committee began its final discussions on Wednesday, called the marathon hearings, ahead of the release of treatments and drugs that will enter the basket on Friday. Walla! NEWS is preparing for the fateful decision that is expected to affect the lives of millions of citizens in Israel.
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To the full articleWhat is the composition of the committee and how does it work?
The committee has 21 members, leading professionals in their field - health professionals, the Ministry of Finance, doctors, public representatives, economists and HMOs, which reflect a wide range of issues. In discussions, they are required to address the full range of medical, social, economic and ethical aspects for the benefit of patients.
Commission hearings began in November, and they took place in a dedicated structure at Sheba Hospital on average twice a week. In the first phase, the members discussed the practical value of the treatments and drugs, and in the second stage the economic aspect. Thus, for example, as every year, it has become questionable whether it is more important for an expensive drug for a few patients than for cheaper treatment for a wider public. The final answers to such questions will be provided on Friday.
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What drugs came to the final exam?
A lot, and that's the problem. Approximately 900 drugs and technologies have been submitted to the committee for a total cost of more than NIS 3.5 billion this year, and in the final discussions, the pharmaceuticals have raised about 200 labels for various drugs and technologies in a total amount of more than NIS 1.5 billion, with only half a billion NIS being available this year. However, this year, the PERFORMANCE agreements will be signed for the first time, under which the Ministry of Health will undertake to pay the pharmaceutical companies only for patients whose medicines have helped them, so this is a welcome change.
Which salient remedies did not go into the final hearing?
Among the treatments that did not go through to the final hearing - ADHD, migraine treatments, contraception for women and eyewear for children up to the age of eight. In addition, the Committee's agenda has dropped a drug for treating household dust mite, diabetes monitoring technology for type 2 diabetics, mammogram screening for early detection of breast cancer for women under 50 and older over 75, increasing funding for Dead Sea medical treatment for psoriasis patients, a discovery survey Early-onset skin cancer in at-risk population, a tiny subcutaneous ECG shelter for arrhythmia diagnosis, a voice-over imaging device for visual impairment and an adult cough vaccine.
Some medicines can be obtained through supplemental insurance (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Bullets (Photo: Reuven Castro)
When are the final answers expected?
At the end of a longer than usual period following the late holiday period and the delay in setting the budget, the Hessel Committee will convene this Friday a press conference to expose all the treatments and medicines for 2020. The journalists, who will be present at the final discussions, as with all discussions in the basket committee, are not allowed to publish details from the discussions themselves until the press conference.
What does anyone interested in the drug not included in the basket?
The state health insurance law establishes a defined basket of medicines that are eligible for all citizens of the country. There are medicines that are not included in the basket and are provided under supplementary health insurance funds, sometimes fully funded and sometimes self-funded. There are medicines that are also not available in the complementary health services, and according to the Ministry of Health they can be imported in special cases specified in Regulation 29 of the Pharmacists Regulations, only after obtaining the Pharmacy and Drugs Department's approval from the Pharmacy and Drugs Department.
