The rate of cancer patients has increased. “Golden Card” takes care of 100,000 cases to 2.5 hundred thousand cases. Expenses are rising to 1.2 billion baht, aiming to expand the hospital to receive more referrals for radiotherapy. Supports treatment anywhere Emphasis on prevention, screening, safe treatment Negotiate prices for new drugs – targeted drugs, revealing 3 new drugs for colorectal cancer treatment
On March 6, Dr. Lalitaya Kongkham, deputy secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), said that cancer patients in the health insurance system or “30 baht gold card” are increasing. In the past 5 years, from more than 100,000 cases to 2.5 hundred thousand cases, the NHSO board has a resolution to implement policies. “Cancer Anywhere” (Cancer Anywhere) increases accessibility. Reduce waiting queues for treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. increase the potential There are 39 specialized referral hospitals for radiotherapy, but some health districts only have one. under expansion As for the budget used to treat cancer patients, it is 1.2 billion baht, representing 7% of the total gold card budget of 1.7 billion baht, with a tendency to increase as the number of cancer patients increases. Growing access to treatment Increased service price Including the development of medical technology and medicine.
Dr. Lalitya said cancer budget control. Focus on prevention and control of diseases such as vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening Colon and rectal cancer oral cancer and breast cancer If found in the early stages There is a chance of cure and the cost is lower than the metastatic stage. end-stage cancer patients There is palliative care. low budget Compared with hospital treatment, the use of targeted cancer drugs There is a policy to bring drugs into the gold card system. There will be a cancer specialist to advise on treatment. Medication will be administered according to the protocol. While new cancer drugs will be packaged as more benefits In the case of expensive cancer drugs, it will enter a drug bargaining mechanism. It could bring the price down in half.
“Treatment for cancer often involves the introduction of new drugs and they are very expensive. In case of being included in the national list of essential drugs The NHSO will have a drug price negotiation mechanism. With the number of cancer patients who have to take a lot of drugs Therefore, the price of drugs can be negotiated a lot, such as Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin. injectable type in colorectal cancer patients stomach cancer and erinothecan HCL injectable to treat colon cancer, etc., which have already been packaged as gold card privileges, ”said Dr. Lalitya.
Dr. Lalitya said that he admitted that the targeted drugs currently have some items that patients with civil servant welfare rights can reimburse. but the gold card is not yet It is in the process of studying the cost effectiveness when comparing the effectiveness of the drug and the price. including the number of systemic cancer patients who need these drugs That will be useful for bargaining. but must understand that The gold card is a health insurance system that takes care of almost all Thai people in the country. Covering care for all diseases The goal is to reduce the public health burden. Not to go bankrupt from illness Use of budget for various benefits must really make it worthwhile both with the patient, the overall system, and the nation.
“Today, if talking about the gold card budget We are still below 4% of the country’s GDP. In the past, the NHSO tried to control the budget through management. Whether using a bargaining mechanism Emphasis on disease prevention and screening introduction of various technologies used to reduce costs which the difference that can save this budget will be extended in the new benefits further, ”said the Deputy Secretary-General of the NHSO.
