One out of every five people in Hong Kong suffers from eczema at different times. The patient will suffer from continuous itching of the skin, and even repeated bacterial infections, which can seriously affect sleep and daily life.
The Hong Kong Allergy Association quoted research pointing out that the more severe the eczema patients are, the more time they lose their work efficiency each week. Critically ill patients have up to 99 days a year to take sick leave or go to work with illness but cannot concentrate on work.
Based on the estimated 150,000 severe eczema patients in Hong Kong, if the condition continues to be uncontrolled, social productivity may lose up to 8.1 billion yuan per year.
In addition, although the use of biological agents can effectively control the disease, it is costly. Concerned organizations strongly recommend that the authorities include biological agents as soon as possible to prevent people in need from having "medicine but no money doctors."
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Allergy Association and the Eczema Concern Group found that many patients spend tens of thousands to tens of thousands of yuan a month to treat eczema. Related expenses have accounted for at least half of their monthly income. Most of the interviewees asked the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority to, Comprehensively introduce the treatment of biological agents with better curative effect.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Allergy Association and the Eczema Concern Group found that many patients spend tens of thousands to tens of thousands of yuan a month to treat eczema. Related expenses have accounted for at least half of their monthly income. Most of the interviewees asked the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority to, Comprehensively introduce the treatment of biological agents with better curative effect.
Eczema is closely related to personal work conditions. The British Association of Dermatologists published a study in the British Journal of Dermatology last year, according to a survey of 1,232 doctors in the United States, Britain, France and Germany. Adult eczema patients who have been diagnosed and who have sought medical treatment in the past year understand that they need time to "take sick leave" or "to go to work with illness but unable to concentrate on work" to analyze whether eczema will cause productivity loss.
The results showed that the more severe the eczema patient's condition, the greater the negative impact on work.
Patients with mild eczema lose work efficiency for an average of 2.4 hours per week, that is, they have to take sick leave or cannot concentrate on work; patients with moderate eczema lose work efficiency for 9.6 hours per week; as for patients with severe eczema, the average weekly Even 19 hours have to be taken sick or unable to concentrate on work, resulting in a huge loss of productivity.
Based on the calculation of 150,000 severe eczema patients in Hong Kong, the annual social productivity loss caused by severe eczema in Hong Kong, or the economic value of 8.1 billion yuan, cannot be ignored.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
150,000 severe eczema patients in Hong Kong may cause a loss of 8.1 billion yuan in social productivity
According to the latest figures from the Census and Statistics Department, the median monthly employment income of Hong Kong people is 18,000 yuan. If each patient with severe eczema has 99 days of leave due to illness or is unable to concentrate on work, he will be unable to perform for about 3 months. Position.
Dr. Xuegong Ho, chairman of the Hong Kong Allergy Association, said that based on previous research estimates, nearly 1.5 million people in Hong Kong have suffered from eczema at different times, of which 10% are severe cases. Based on the 150,000 severe eczema patients in Hong Kong, Hong Kong The annual loss of social productivity caused by severe eczema, or the economic value of 8.1 billion yuan, cannot be ignored.
6% of respondents have monthly eczema expenses ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan
In addition, in order to understand the economic burden of eczema patients in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Allergy Association and the Eczema Concern Group interviewed 216 eczema patients through online questionnaires from October to November this year. 76% of them have been affected by eczema for more than 10 years. It was found that the average monthly expenditure of the interviewed patients on eczema treatment and skin care was RMB 2,944, and 22% of the patients spent RMB 5,000 or more.
6% of the interviewees also revealed that the current monthly eczema-related expenditures range from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, and more than 30% of the patients surveyed said that eczema expenditures have accounted for at least 30% of their monthly income; 17% of the respondents’ The cost of eczema is more than half or more of the monthly income.
In the face of treatment expenditure, 63% of the respondents described the economy as “stressed” or “very stressful”; two adults are more often unable to use the treatment recommended by the attending doctor due to financial problems.
More than 70% of the interviewees believe that biologics are safe and effective
The survey also asked respondents or relatives and friends who had used biological agents their views on the treatment. The results showed that more than 70 adults believed that biological agents were safe and effective. The following public hospitals should fully introduce biological treatments.
As many as 95% of the interviewees expect that the government should provide medical assistance for biological agents, such as the "Samaria Fund" or "Care Fund" to subsidize patients with financial difficulties to use drugs.
When the 30-year-old Miss Huang was in the worst condition, she couldn't even hold her eyes open. Whenever she straightened her hands and feet, she would seep water and blood. She had even thought of suicide.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
When the female patient is the most serious, straighten her hands and feet and continue to ooze blood
30-year-old Ms. Huang had mild eczema since she was a child. After she entered puberty, her eczema became more and more serious. She tried to take antibiotics to control her condition except for the soles of her feet. She had to take antibiotics to control her condition. repeatedly".
After graduation, she worked in a bank. Due to the heavy workload and poor concentration, the work progress slowed down. As a result, the working hours became longer and longer, and she suffered from insomnia for more than a year.
When her condition was the most serious, she couldn't even hold her eyes open. Whenever she straightened her hands and feet, she would seep water and blood, and she had even thought of suicide.
"As of June 2019, I started to use biologics. After two injections, the effect was immediate. The itchiness decreased every hour, and the eczema wounds began to be buried afterwards. The pain was not so painful the next day."
However, Ms. Huang said frankly that the monthly cost of biological preparations, together with Chinese and Western medicines, skin care oils, and health products, was once close to 30,000 yuan.
Zheng started to use biological agents for treatment a few months ago and his condition was under control.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
As for Mrs. Cheng’s 12-year-old son who also suffers from eczema, he started to induce the condition in the third grade of elementary school. Sometimes my hands and feet are bad, and I am infected with Staphylococcus aureus, so I have to take steroids."
Her son started using biological agents for treatment a few months ago and spent at least 6,000 yuan per month on eczema-related expenses. She bluntly said that the current economy is under pressure and hopes to subsidize patients in need to take medicine. "Since there are medicines, the government has money, why? Don’t let more people benefit?"
Huang Miner, a registered social worker of the Eczema Concern Group, said frankly that the biologics treatment for patients with moderate to severe eczema was registered in Hong Kong as early as October 2018. If the patient uses biologics in a private doctor, the monthly drug fee will be about 15,000. To 20,000 yuan.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
Registered social worker of the Eczema Concern Group worries about another tragedy
Huang Miner, a registered social worker of the Eczema Concern Group, said frankly that the biologics treatment for patients with moderate to severe eczema was registered in Hong Kong as early as October 2018. If the patient uses biologics in a private doctor, the monthly drug fee will be about 15,000. To 20,000 yuan.
However, until now, public hospitals have not fully introduced this therapy. Patients with financial difficulties have waited for more than three years and still have "medicine but no money."
Regarding the suicide of a severe eczema patient in 2018, she was worried that the tragedy would repeat itself. "If you continue to delay, 3 years and 3 years, I don't want to have a second tragedy."
The Eczema Concern Group urges the government to include biological agents in the safety net so that patients in need can receive appropriate treatment.
Dr. He Xuegong said bluntly that Hong Kong is a wealthy city, but there are so many eczema patients who have lost hope. He hopes that the society will face up to the potential problems of eczema.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Allergy Association)
Dr. He Xuegong said bluntly that Hong Kong is a wealthy city, but there are so many eczema patients who have lost hope. He hopes that the society will face up to the potential problems of eczema. It is not very visible on the public medical radar, but it is extremely disturbing to the patient's body and mind."
He explained that clinical data showed that biologics for eczema had significant effects and had few side effects. The main cause was redness and swelling at the injection site, which could also cause conjunctivitis or oral herpes, which can generally be controlled by drugs.
At present, more than 30 countries or regions have subsidized local patients to use couscous. The Hong Kong Allergy Association strongly recommends that the authorities respond to the needs of eczema patients and include eczema biologics as subsidized drugs as soon as possible.
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