Wang, how are you doing? The last time you told me you had lung cancer, it scared the hell out of me. You said you don't smoke either, so why did you get this disease? The doctor said you were genetically mutated, hey, what a disaster from the sky! But don't worry, there is now a new drug called pratinib, which I heard is very effective and can cure several cancers! Lao Li's son also had cancer some time ago, and after taking this medicine, he is much better now! You can also ask your doctor to see if it's right for you.
It's just that this medicine is very expensive! When it was first listed, it cost 60,000 yuan a month, and now that it is in medical insurance, it also costs more than 10,000 yuan! Lao Li's family sold all the houses in order to treat the disease, it was really difficult! When do you think this medicine will be cheaper, so that we people can afford it?
01
Why are anti-cancer drugs with "no cancer limit" so expensive?
As a new type of broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug, when it comes to new drugs, the price is really a headache! Many people say that this medicine is good, but it is too expensive to eat! You know, it's not so easy to develop new drugs. Scientists have to spend a long time, do experiments over and over again, and have to make sure that the drug is safe and effective, and it will not be successful overnight. If it's so strenuous, the price will naturally be high.
This process requires a lot of money for laboratory construction, equipment purchase, staff salaries, clinical trials, and so on. You see this pratinib, the effect is really good, but the price is really high. Why? The R&D cost of this targeted drug is inherently high, just like customizing a piece of clothing, which is definitely more expensive than mass production! In addition, the production process is also more complex, with high technical content and stricter quality requirements, and these high-demand production conditions have also directly led to the increase in the production cost of drugs.
Of course, market factors have also had a certain impact on the price of pratinib. In recent years, as the incidence of cancer has been rising, there has been a growing need for effective treatments. As a new drug with remarkable efficacy, pratinib is naturally sought after by the market, and the price has also risen.
In addition, patent protection is also one of the reasons for the high price of pratinib. After the successful development of a new drug, the pharmaceutical company will apply for patent protection in order to monopolize the market for a certain period of time and obtain a reasonable return. During the patent protection period, other companies cannot imitate the production, which also allows the price of the original drug to remain high.
02
After the inclusion of pratinib in medical insurance, has the burden on patients been reduced?
The inclusion of pratinib in the medical insurance list is undoubtedly a blessing for the majority of cancer patients. Medical insurance reimbursement can cover part of the cost of treatment, reduce the pressure of patients to pay out of pocket, and make this life-saving drug more accessible to more patients.
However, the price of pratinib is still high, and even after reimbursement by medical insurance, patients still have to bear a certain amount of out-of-pocket expenses. Especially for low-income families, this is still a significant expense. They may need to save money or even borrow money to pay for their medical bills, which will undoubtedly put a lot of stress on their lives.
For some patients with complex conditions, other adjuvant treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. are also needed. The cost of these treatments is also borne by the patient, further increasing their financial burden.
Therefore, although pratinib can be partially reimbursed by medical insurance, everyone's burden is much lighter. However, for some patients with poor economic conditions, the cost of this medicine is still quite heavy.
03
Will the price of pratinib decrease further in the future?
Whether the price of pratinib will decrease in the future is a concern for many patients. The good news is that as generic drugs come to market, market competition will intensify and prices are expected to fall. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient and efficacy as the original drug, but are less expensive, providing patients with more options.
In addition, the state is also actively promoting the price reduction of anti-cancer drugs, and reducing the drug burden of patients through negotiation and bargaining. In recent years, the National Health Insurance Administration has included a number of anti-cancer drugs in the NRDL and significantly reduced the prices of these drugs through negotiations, so that more patients can use and afford anti-cancer drugs.
Advances in science and technology have also brought hope for the price reduction of pratinib. With the continuous improvement of production technology and the expansion of production scale, the production cost of pratinib is expected to be further reduced, thereby driving down the price.
Of course, it will take some time for the price of pratinib to drop, and patients need to be patient. It is believed that with the efforts of all parties, more patients will be able to afford this life-saving drug and obtain better treatment results in the future.
04
How can patients better afford the cost of pratinib?
Faced with the high cost of treatment, there are a few things that patients can do to alleviate the financial pressure. First of all, it is necessary to actively understand and apply for relevant medical insurance policies to minimize the pressure of self-payment. Read the medical insurance policy documents carefully, understand the reimbursement scope, reimbursement ratio, reimbursement process and other information, and submit relevant materials in accordance with the regulations.
Communicate with your doctor about alternative treatment options. Depending on your condition and financial situation, discuss with your doctor whether you can use other drugs with similar efficacy but lower prices, or adjust your treatment plan to reduce the cost of treatment.
Social assistance can be sought. Some charities and social organizations provide medical assistance to patients in need, and patients can actively seek help to relieve financial pressure.
Finally, it is necessary to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude and build confidence in overcoming the disease. Actively cooperating with the doctor's treatment and maintaining good lifestyle habits can help improve the treatment effect and reduce the cost of treatment.