Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
Update Date: 2008/09/04 04:09
[Reporters Xu Xialian, Wang Changmin, Liao Qianying / Comprehensive Report]
Daily necessities are all rising in price! Now even the "Side Capsule," used to treat tumor angiogenesis in patients with liver cancer and other diseases, is seeing an outrageous price hike. Taiwan TTY Biopharm Co., Ltd. recently notified medical institutions and doctors that starting from September 15th, the price per capsule will increase from the original NT$70 to NT$500. Some medical centers are even raising the price from NT$75 to NT$540 per capsule. Not only are patients outraged and cursing, but even doctors are slamming tables in anger, accusing the pharmaceutical company of being heartless!
A reader of this newspaper, Zhang Fuxin, stated yesterday that he was diagnosed with liver cancer at the end of last year, and in May this year, it metastasized to his lungs. He now relies on taking two "Side Capsules" daily to hopefully stop tumor angiogenesis. This medication is not covered by health insurance, and patients must pay out of pocket. He is unemployed, and any additional expense is a burden on his family. Recently, the hospital informed him that starting September 15th, the price per capsule will rise from NT$70 to NT$500, citing the pharmaceutical company's decision to increase prices.
Zhang Fuxin said he called the Consumers' Foundation to complain, and they suggested he contact the Health Insurance Bureau. The Health Insurance Bureau then directed him to the Department of Health, which in turn told him to contact the Taichung City Health Bureau. The Taichung City Health Bureau stated that local health bureaus do not have jurisdiction over drug pricing. He expressed his despair, asking, "Are they just waiting for patients to die?"
Wang Bomin, Director of the Radiation Oncology Department at Cheng Ching Hospital's Chung Kang Branch, said that last Wednesday, the pharmaceutical company notified medical institutions and doctors nationwide. At that time, some doctors were so angry they slammed their tables, calling the company "heartless." However, Taiwan TTY Biopharm stated that they export "Side Capsules" abroad, where each capsule can sell for up to NT$2,000.
**Monopoly Market: TTY Claims Price is Reasonable**
Director Wang Bomin said that the "Side Capsule" is in a monopolistic market. Some have angrily suggested boycotting it, but the only alternative is another pharmaceutical company's targeted therapy drug, which costs around NT$95,000 per month. This alternative is even more expensive, has stronger side effects, and many patients cannot endure it for more than three to six months. So, how can they boycott?
TTY Biopharm spokesperson Zhang Zhimeng stated that the price increase for Side Capsules reflects research and development costs and is a reasonable price. Officials from the Department of Health and the Health Insurance Bureau said that whether this involves price gouging or monopoly practices must be investigated by the Fair Trade Commission. The Fair Trade Commission stated that if individual companies adjust prices due to cost increases, the Commission cannot intervene.
**Exploiting the Poor: Health Insurance Watchdog Questions Profiteering**
Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the National Health Insurance Watchdog Alliance, questioned, "If NT$70 is profitable, then isn't NT$500 just profiteering?" She criticized the unreasonable price hike as exploiting the vulnerable and robbing the poor to benefit the rich. "Can pharmaceutical companies do this? Don't they have social responsibilities?" Zhang Zhimeng responded that if patients can provide proof of low-income status, TTY will provide Side Capsules free of charge.
Zhang Zhimeng stated that starting in September, TTY will increase the price of Side Capsules sold to hospitals to NT$408 per capsule. When asked about the original price, he said, "I'm not sure."
Zhang Zhimeng also mentioned that Side Capsules are currently applying for health insurance pricing approval, and the chances of approval are high. However, Huang Zhaoming, Deputy Director of the Health Insurance Bureau's Drug Materials Group, stated that the Bureau recently finalized drug prices, but TTY is unwilling to accept them, so the drug cannot yet be included in health insurance coverage.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 080904/ 78/ 15bd3. html
Liver Cancer Lifesaving Drug: Sait Capsule Price Surges from 70 to 500 Yuan Per Pill
[Reporters Xu Xialian, Wang Changmin, Liao Qianying / Comprehensive Report]
Daily necessities are all rising in price! Now even the "Side Capsule," used to treat tumor angiogenesis in patients with liver cancer and other diseases, is seeing an outrageous price hike. Taiwan TTY Biopharm Co., Ltd. recently notified medical institutions and doctors that starting from September 15th, the price per capsule will increase from the original NT$70 to NT$500. Some medical centers are even raising the price from NT$75 to NT$540 per capsule. Not only are patients outraged and cursing, but even doctors are slamming tables in anger, accusing the pharmaceutical company of being heartless!
A reader of this newspaper, Zhang Fuxin, stated yesterday that he was diagnosed with liver cancer at the end of last year, and in May this year, it metastasized to his lungs. He now relies on taking two "Side Capsules" daily to hopefully stop tumor angiogenesis. This medication is not covered by health insurance, and patients must pay out of pocket. He is unemployed, and any additional expense is a burden on his family. Recently, the hospital informed him that starting September 15th, the price per capsule will rise from NT$70 to NT$500, citing the pharmaceutical company's decision to increase prices.
Zhang Fuxin said he called the Consumers' Foundation to complain, and they suggested he contact the Health Insurance Bureau. The Health Insurance Bureau then directed him to the Department of Health, which in turn told him to contact the Taichung City Health Bureau. The Taichung City Health Bureau stated that local health bureaus do not have jurisdiction over drug pricing. He expressed his despair, asking, "Are they just waiting for patients to die?"
Wang Bomin, Director of the Radiation Oncology Department at Cheng Ching Hospital's Chung Kang Branch, said that last Wednesday, the pharmaceutical company notified medical institutions and doctors nationwide. At that time, some doctors were so angry they slammed their tables, calling the company "heartless." However, Taiwan TTY Biopharm stated that they export "Side Capsules" abroad, where each capsule can sell for up to NT$2,000.
**Monopoly Market: TTY Claims Price is Reasonable**
Director Wang Bomin said that the "Side Capsule" is in a monopolistic market. Some have angrily suggested boycotting it, but the only alternative is another pharmaceutical company's targeted therapy drug, which costs around NT$95,000 per month. This alternative is even more expensive, has stronger side effects, and many patients cannot endure it for more than three to six months. So, how can they boycott?
TTY Biopharm spokesperson Zhang Zhimeng stated that the price increase for Side Capsules reflects research and development costs and is a reasonable price. Officials from the Department of Health and the Health Insurance Bureau said that whether this involves price gouging or monopoly practices must be investigated by the Fair Trade Commission. The Fair Trade Commission stated that if individual companies adjust prices due to cost increases, the Commission cannot intervene.
**Exploiting the Poor: Health Insurance Watchdog Questions Profiteering**
Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the National Health Insurance Watchdog Alliance, questioned, "If NT$70 is profitable, then isn't NT$500 just profiteering?" She criticized the unreasonable price hike as exploiting the vulnerable and robbing the poor to benefit the rich. "Can pharmaceutical companies do this? Don't they have social responsibilities?" Zhang Zhimeng responded that if patients can provide proof of low-income status, TTY will provide Side Capsules free of charge.
Zhang Zhimeng stated that starting in September, TTY will increase the price of Side Capsules sold to hospitals to NT$408 per capsule. When asked about the original price, he said, "I'm not sure."
Zhang Zhimeng also mentioned that Side Capsules are currently applying for health insurance pricing approval, and the chances of approval are high. However, Huang Zhaoming, Deputy Director of the Health Insurance Bureau's Drug Materials Group, stated that the Bureau recently finalized drug prices, but TTY is unwilling to accept them, so the drug cannot yet be included in health insurance coverage.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 080904/ 78/ 15bd3. html