5 cancer drugs reimbursed increase survival rates
With the regulation of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, 5 immunotherapy drugs used in the treatment of 25 different cancer subtypes were included in the scope of reimbursement. Approximately 48 thousand cancer patients will be able to benefit from the regulation, which was made to facilitate access to drugs for cancer patients. Immunotherapy drugs will be offered to patients struggling with lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, lymphoma, stomach and intestinal cancers in particular.
"LIFE SPAN IS EXTENDING"Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Clinic Education Manager Prof. Dr. Hakan Buluş said that the cost of immunotherapy drugs will be covered for 25 different types of cancer.
Prof. Dr. Buluş, stating that one of the new generation treatment approaches, especially in cancer, is immunotherapy, said, "Immunotherapy is actually known among the public as a smart chemotherapy drug. These immunotherapy drugs increase the effectiveness by activating the person's own immune system and increasing immunity against tumor cells. This provides us with significant advantages in the treatment of the disease, 5-year survival rate and recurrence of the disease. In studies conducted on stomach cancer, when these immunotherapy drugs were added to conventional chemotherapy drugs, it was shown that there was an extension in life expectancy of almost 2 times at the end of the 3rd year in advanced-stage stomach cancers. Therefore, I think that this will be a good example in terms of showing how positive the final decision was in the light of these international data studies."
Prof. Dr. Buluş drew attention to the fact that currently 2 cancer drugs are reimbursed in some indications and said, "Constant updates are made by taking into account scientific data. As a result of these updates, the scope of these drugs has been increased. With the inclusion of the cost of 5 drugs in the scope of payment for 25 different types of cancer, 3 immunotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment have been included in the scope of reimbursement for the first time with the latest regulation. The scope of payment for 2 drugs has been expanded."
"48 THOUSAND CANCER PATIENTS WILL BENEFIT"Prof. Dr. Buluş said that the drugs in question have now become available for use in current treatment, especially in lymphoma, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, especially small cell lung cancer, stomach, renal cell cancer and breast cancer, which is common in women, and added, "With the inclusion of these drugs in the payment scope in 25 different cancer types, these drugs can be used in 2nd and 3rd level private and public hospitals with SSI agreements and are now included in the payment scope. With this latest new regulation, approximately 48 thousand cancer patients have the opportunity to benefit from this regulation. With the latest regulation, the number of drugs included in the reimbursement list has been increased to 784. In this way, our patients will now have easy access to drugs and treatment."
Buluş stated that these patients had previously had problems accessing the medication, and said, "This caused the treatments to be delayed and prolonged for the patients. With this latest update, these immunotherapy drugs will now be more easily accessible. The problems of patients applying to the Social Security Institution have been eliminated. Patients and their relatives are now in a position to manage this process more easily and more successfully."
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