The 65-year-old Zhima had a recurrence of breast cancer, and her 23-year-old son Vincent suffered from a rare germ cell tumor. In just a few months, the two had almost exhausted their wealth for examinations, tests, and treatment.
As Zhima's HER2 breast cancer has spread, she needs to use new drugs to suppress her condition. However, the new drugs are not included in the safety net of the drug register. She has to buy the drugs at her own expense. unaffordable.
Fang Jiayi, chairman of the Cancer Information Network Charity Foundation, pointed out that grassroots cancer patients often encounter the dilemma of "there is no money for medicine". New drugs need to be included in the roster to receive funding from the safety net. However, the process takes years, and patients may not have the chance to survive until they die. Money to buy medicine, some patients want to sell their buildings or borrow money from relatives and friends for medical treatment, even if they are cured, their family wealth is gone or they are heavily in debt.
In response to the enquiry of "Hong Kong 01", the HA pointed out that the new drug used by Zhima was registered in Hong Kong in December last year and is not currently on the HA's drug register. It is expected that the latest developments in clinical medicine and scientific research evidence of different cancer drugs will be closely monitored.
The 65-year-old mother has a recurrence of breast cancer, and her 23-year-old son Vincent has a rare form of germ cell cancer.
(Photo by Mak Kan Taki)
The target drug "PERTUZUMAB" currently used by Zhima has been fully subsidized by the "Care Fund Medical Assistance Project", but the anti-HER2 target drug Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) she will use has not been listed Since he was listed on the drug register, he could only buy anti-cancer drugs at his own expense, and he would be given an injection every three weeks to prolong his life, at a cost of nearly 50,000 yuan each time.
Fang Jiayi, chairman of the Cancer Information Network Charity Foundation, pointed out that Zhima's new drug is an ADC drug (Antibody-drug conjugate), a new type of anticancer drug on the market. Subsidized by the bureau's safety net, patients must pay for the medicines at their own expense.
According to the current mechanism, the HA Drug Advice Committee holds 4 meetings a year to evaluate and review new drugs; and since 2018, the HA’s review of self-financed drugs into the safety net has increased from once a year to twice a year , to expedite the inclusion of suitable new medicines in the safety net.
[Donate now] The road to fight against cancer is rough
Fang Jiayi pointed out that Zhima's new drug is an ADC drug, which is a relatively new type of cancer drug on the market.
(file picture)
Safety net for new drugs to be added to the roster takes time or years
However, Fang Jiayi said that for a new drug launched by a pharmaceutical company, it will take time or years from registration, scheduling, submission to the meeting for deliberation, and then being officially included in the safety net of the drug roster.
Without any financial support, patients cannot afford the expensive medicines by themselves, and often suffer from the miserable situation of "there is no money for medicines".
In the past, patients with rare diseases died because they could not receive funding and could not afford the high cost of medicines.
The patient waits till he dies and has no money to buy medicine or borrow money for medical treatment
She said that in addition to the HA safety net, there are still non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing support, such as St. James' Settlement Benefit Community Pharmacy and the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Services Foundation, which have drug support programs for different types of cancer. Depending on the applicant's medical condition and financial situation, different subsidies can be provided for the purchase of drugs, such as discounts, buy-one-get-one-free, and even a "cap plan" (that is, free after a certain course of continuous use of a drug).
Fang Jiayi reminded that the items covered by the two institutions are limited, but it is recommended that patients in need can inquire.
However, Fang Jiayi admits that she has encountered many patient cases in the past. Some people have neither safety net funding, NGOs nor relevant drug support plans. The patients have to "sell the property" to cash out, or even ask relatives and friends to borrow money for medical treatment, resulting in heavy debts. .
Although A Qing (right in the back row) and A Yi (left in the back row) and Zhi Ma are not blood relatives, their love crosses the blood line, and they never dare to forget Zhi Ma’s years of nurturing grace, and they are determined to walk side by side to fight cancer road.
(Photo by Mak Kan Taki)
[Hong Kong 01 Zhongle Fund] Donate immediately to support Zhima Vincent's self-funded anticancer drugs
Fang Jiayi continued to point out that some patients will also try to receive clinical research on new drugs in order to obtain the opportunity for free treatment, but this is mainly through the introduction of doctors.
She explained that sometimes oncologists notice that some new drugs are undergoing clinical research at a certain stage, and the relevant patients meet the requirements, and they will invite patients to participate in relevant clinical research.
Fang said that such clinical research information is not circulating, and it is difficult for patients to find out. Generally, doctors rely on referrals, and most of them are conducted in teaching hospitals (Prince of Wales Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital).
She explained that because participating in this type of clinical research is a voluntary trade, there will also be relevant terms and conditions. Doctors and researchers will regularly conduct inspections to extract data and observe the effectiveness of new treatments or new drugs. Once they are found to be inappropriate, they will stop immediately.
The HA responded to the inquiry "Hong Kong 01" and confirmed that the new drug used by Zhima was not a drug on the register.
The bureau pointed out that the current drug register contains different drugs for the treatment of breast cancer, including drugs that are covered by the safety net.
According to the current mechanism, the HA will regularly evaluate new drugs and review the coverage of drug rosters and safety nets. It will also closely monitor the latest development of clinical medical and scientific evidence of different cancer drugs, listen to the opinions and suggestions of patient groups, and continue to use To ensure equitable access to cost-effective, proven safe and efficacious medicines for patients by utilising limited public resources and providing treatment to the most needy patients to update the drug register.
[Donate now] The road to fight against cancer is rough
Since 2005, the HA has launched a drug register system to unify the drug policies and drug use of public hospitals and clinics.
Under the current system, there are four types of drugs on the list. "Generic drugs" and "specialty drugs" belong to the scope of subsidized services by the HA. After clinical prescriptions by doctors, public hospitals only charge standard fees.
"Self-financed drugs" (subsidized by the safety net) refer to expensive drugs that have been proven to have significant curative effects, but are beyond the scope of the HA's general subsidized services. Patients must purchase them at their own expense. If they have financial difficulties, patients can apply for "Samari Sub-fund and Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Scheme, which can be aided by means of test; "Self-financed drugs" (not funded by the safety net) refer to drugs that have only undergone preliminary medical verification and are obviously expensive and must be purchased by patients at their own expense.
After breast cancer recurrence, 23-year-old cancer brother needs to have his lungs cut, and two stepdaughters will not abandon their companions to fight cancer
