Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ17: Anti-cancer drugs

Following is a question by the Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 2):


Question:


It has been reported that patients with leiomyoma in Hong Kong need to take expensive anti-cancer drugs for a long time, and quite a number of them have to live on borrowings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:


(a)the current number of patients with leiomyoma in Hong Kong, and whether the number has been on the rise;


(b)if the Hospital Authority (HA) has received complaints from such patients that they cannot afford the cost of medication; if so, of the number of complaints in each of the past two years; and


(c)the details of the safety net currently provided by HA to assist those patients who have financial difficulties in buying the anti-cancer drugs?


Reply:


Generally speaking, the standard treatment for leiomyoma (including Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour "GIST") in public hospitals is removal by operation and supportive care. The Hospital Authority (HA) announced on January 18, 2005 that commencing from January 20, 2005, public hospitals would prescribe Imatinib (Glivec) for patients with GIST that is inoperable. Patients with financial difficulties in meeting the cost of the drug may apply for assistance under the Samaritan Fund.


(a)Currently, there are about 30 public hospital patients with GIST in Hong Kong. The number of such patients has been on a upward trend.


(b)Prior to January 20, 2005, as Glivec was not part of the standard treatment for GIST, financial assistance from the Samaritan Fund was not available to GIST patients for meeting the cost of the drug. The HA was aware that some GIST patients had asked for financial assistance to meet the cost of the drug in the past, but did not receive any formal complaints in this regard.


(c)Glivec belongs to a small group of drugs that are proven to be of significant benefits but extremely expensive for the HA to provide as part of its subsidised service. Drugs within this group are new and usually only indicated in advanced stages of diseases and beyond currently available standard modalities of treatment. In order to ensure the rational use of finite public resources and to maximise the health benefits to the public as a whole, patients requiring this expensive drug and can afford to pay will have to shoulder the drug cost themselves under the targeted subsidy principle. Patients who have difficulties in meeting the expenses may apply for assistance under the Samaritan Fund. Depending on the patients' individual financial situation, they may receive a partial subsidy or even full reimbursement for their expenses on these drugs.


Applications for assistance under the Samaritan Fund are assessed by Medical Social Workers, who will make a comprehensive assessment of the patients' eligibility for assistance. Factors of consideration include the patients' family income and the actual cost of the required medical item. The Medical Social Workers would also exercise discretion in determining eligibility, taking into account special social factors and the circumstances of the patients' family.





Ends/Wednesday, March 2, 2005

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