30 new drug items reimbursed or extended coverage this year

...expected to cost ₩256.4 billion

Status of new and standard extended items in the drug reimbursement list based on the amdendment made this month

An total of 25 items listed and 5 items extended reimbursement… improved accessibility for 781,725 people

30 new drugs were newly listed on the reimbursement list or extended reimbursement standards from January this year to this month.

 

Among these, 25 were newly listed new drugs, and 5 were already-listed new drugs that have extended their scope of reimbursement and increased coverage.

 

The reinforced coverage of new drugs this year benefited only 107,000 patients in Korea until last month, but the new listing of Bronpass Tab had increased the number of beneficiaries sevenfold to record 781,725.

 

First, 30 drugs (based on representative dosages) were enhanced coverage being newly listed on the reimbursement list or extended reimbursement standards from January to November.

 

Drugs that were newly listed as of the 1st this month are the severe neutropenia treatment Rolontis Prefilled Syringe inj and acute bronchitis treatment Bronpass Tab.

 

No drugs were extended reimbursement standards this month.

 

The two drugs that were newly listed differ greatly in the expected number of patients in Korea and annual financial requirements.

 

Reimbursement for Rolontis Prefilled Syringe inj is expected to be applied to 4,000 people, costing ₩10 billion.

 

On the other hand, Bronpass Tab is reimbursed for 670,000 people and will be applied to the most amount of patients among all newly listed drugs this year, however, its annual fiscal spending is relatively small, by ₩2.9 billion.

 

This is interpreted as a result of comprehensively reflecting to flexibly expand coverage even for expensive drugs required for a small number of rare diseases and the social maturity to accommodate them.

 

The number of beneficiaries greatly varies due to policies that now allow flexible expansion of NHI coverage to high-price drugs that are used for a small number of rare diseases, that were established based on the increased social maturity that can now accept such policies.

 

The government and payer expect the new listing and extended reimbursement standards to cost ₩256.4 billion and grant access to 781,725 people.