Rare Disease Alliance launches drug installment payment plan to reduce treatment admission fees, 400 people expected to benefit in the first round

District 18 News

Written by: Zeng Fengting

2020-09-24 17:01

Last update date: 2020-09-24 17:01

Medical expenses are often the biggest consideration for patients when they seek medical treatment. However, many drugs need to be paid in full in one lump sum. Some patients do not have enough money immediately, causing them to miss the best opportunity for treatment.

The Rare Disease Alliance and Community Pharmacy (with Anxin Pharmacy) launched today (24th) the "Drug Fee Installment Plan", which allows patients with valid drug prescriptions to pay for drugs in installments via credit card to reduce the admission fees for patients receiving treatment .

Zeng Jianping, president of the Hong Kong Rare Diseases Alliance, said that in the past, many patients may not be able to pay a lump-sum drug fee at once, and eventually delay treatment.

For other patients with government-provided drug subsidies, it is also difficult for them to pay for drugs other than the subsidized amount in one go. "At present, they have to pay their own expenses before they can get the medicine." He hopes that through the plan, These patients can use the installment plan to purchase the drugs covered by the plan, reducing the financial pressure of the patients.

The president of the Hong Kong Rare Disease Alliance, Zeng Jianping, hopes that through the plan, these patients can use the installment plan to purchase the drugs covered by the plan and reduce the financial pressure on the patients.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

He used multiple sclerosis as an example. Although the new drugs are more effective in prolonging and reducing the rate of recurrence, the therapeutic effect is consistently better, but the cost of the drug is very high, as high as 320,000 yuan a year.

If the "Medicine Expenses Installment Plan" is adopted, the patient can pay the medicine expenses in 18 months. It costs 17,000 yuan per month. The entry fee for participating in the treatment is greatly reduced compared with the original, so that people in need can accept it as soon as possible treatment.

At this stage, it is planned to support three drugs, including Cladribine for the treatment of relapsed multiple sclerosis, Nintedanib for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and A. for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Fatinib (Aatinib).

It is reported that more than 400 patients are currently expected to benefit from the first round of the program.

No application is required, a valid drug prescription and designated credit card are required

No special application is required for the plan. Patients only need to have a valid drug prescription and they can call the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Services Fund's Dispensary Pharmacy to make an appointment. The designated credit card (HSBC or Standard Chartered Bank) can be used for payment.

Anxin pharmacy pharmacists will inform patients to take medicines and provide them with medicine consultations, so that they can master relevant medicine knowledge, such as the impact of medicine on their bodies and daily life.

There is no need to apply for the plan. Patients only need to have a valid drug prescription and they can call the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Services Fund's Dispensary Pharmacy to make an appointment. The designated credit card (HSBC or Standard Chartered) can be used for payment.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Zeng Jianping pointed out that the concept of the drug instalment plan is derived from the fact that people buy durable consumer goods through instalments daily, such as mobile phones and large household appliances, and hope that through instalment payments, more patients can receive immediate treatment.

The plan is the first instalment payment plan for medicines in Hong Kong's medical profession. He hopes that more medicines will be touched in the future and more people will benefit.

He also revealed that the current and different pharmaceutical companies are studying to include more drugs in the plan, and he hopes that the pharmacies, private clinics and private hospitals of the HA can also provide instalment services in the future.

Zeng Jianping (middle), the president of the Hong Kong Rare Diseases Alliance, hopes that through the plan, these patients can use the installment plan to purchase the drugs covered by the plan, and reduce the financial pressure of the patients.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Ms. Huang, who suffered from multiple sclerosis in 2012, expressed expectations for the plan. She pointed out that many new drugs are very helpful for treatment.

She used a new drug on the recommendation of a doctor in April 2018. She had intravenously injected drugs (commonly known as slingshots) 8 times in a year, and had to pay the corresponding amount for each injection. In the past year, she spent 700,000 for injections. .

She believes that although some drugs are currently subsidized, due to the influence of different factors, patients will delay treatment and even miss the best treatment opportunity. She believes that the plan will provide opportunities for these patients to treat as soon as possible to avoid irreversible symptoms. .

[Rare disease] 8-year-old Yu Yicheng's eyesight will be blind at 16-year-old father: her sky should not be restricted

[There are medicines and no money for doctors] A monthly spend of 20,000 yuan to treat rare patients: only hope to maintain the quality of life

[There are medicines and no money for doctors] The government refuses to legislate rare patients who wait until they die, and the private sector pushes the capping plan for assistance

[Rare disease] The painting tutor suffered from a rare disease for less than half a year, and his left eye was blind. Purchased self-funded medicine and spent savings

01Community

18 District News Drug List Hospital Authority Rare Diseases