Ppl willing to pay max ₩13.52 mil. for one-shot therap

Results from a public survey conducted by Korean Organization for Rare Disease, sponsored by NA member Sun-woo Kang

80% of respondents agreed to supporting treatment expenses for rare diseases from a separate source other than NHI finances

Over 75% of the public responded that high-priced innovative new drugs, or so-called ‘one-shot treatments,’ should be covered by the National Health Insurance.

 

As to the maximum price the public was willing to pay for such treatments, the average price was ₩13.52 million, and the most amount of respondents - 33.3% - agreed to the price.

 

The Korean Organization for Rare Disease recently announced the results of a public survey on reimbursing innovative new drugs, which was commissioned to Gallup and sponsored by National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee member Sun-woo Kang of the Democratic Party of Korea.

 

The survey was conducted online on 1,018 adults between the age of 19 to 65.

 

Results showed that the general public tended to agree that applying health insurance on high-priced innovative new drugs even if it goes against equity and agreed on bearing additional insurance premiums or taking measures such as reducing coverage of mild diseases, etc.

 

In particular, 52.6% of the respondents, which was twice more than the 22% that responded that covering high-priced new drugs that treat a small number of patients with specific diseases may be against the principle of equity of the National Health Insurance System.

 

However, 75.2% of the respondents also agreed that health insurance coverage should be applied to recently-approved innovative new drugs, which was overwhelmingly higher than the 6.6% who opposed coverage.

 

Also, the consent rate in general was higher for taking measures necessary to ensure the financial stability of the health insurance while covering innovative new drugs.

 

On the question of whether it would be okay to slightly increase one’s insurance premium to cover high-priced new drugs, the majority, 55.7% of the respondents agreed, which was three times higher than the 19% that opposed.

 

42.2% of the respondents agreed on partially reducing the medical level of coverage provided for mild disease and medical treatments, which is a lower rate of agreement than for other questions, but still higher than the 32% that opposed.

 

In addition, 51.1% of the respondents answered that innovative new drugs that were developed recently and have not verified their efficacy and safety for over 10 years, in the long-term, should be reimbursed, a 3 times higher rate than the 17.7% that opposed.

 

On supporting the treatment cost of severe rare diseases and cancer with a separate source other than the NHI finances to address the issue of equity, the majority -79.6% - of the respondents agreed, and 72.8% agreed that Korea’s healthcare policy should prioritize enhancing accessibility and coverage of new drugs with an innovative MOA and therapeutic effect despite its high price.

 

In particular, the respondents were willing to pay on average of ₩13.52 million for rare disease drugs that require 100% copayment, and the respondent who was willing to pay the most said that he or she is willing to pay up to ₩2.5 billion.

 

Among those who responded that they will pay, the most amount of respondents, 33.3%, responded that they will pay at most ‘between ₩1,000,000-5,000,000,’ followed by 23.4% that responded ‘between ₩100,000-500,000,’ and then 13.6% that responded ‘between ₩10,000,000-50,000,000’ Tae-young Lee, President of the Korean Organization for Rare Disease said, “The survey showed that not only the patients, but the general public also have consensus on enhancing coverage for high-priced innovative new drugs.

 

The government should reflect public opinion and make efforts to promptly incorporate high-priced drugs into our healthcare system using various policy alternatives.” The KORD president also said the organization will work closely with the government to support such efforts.