The Ministry of Health has prepared a draft therapeutic program to increase access to a drug for severe allergic asthma. It is to be included in the basket of benefits guaranteed from public funds.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the draft program was developed in close cooperation with the national consultant in the field of allergology, Prof. Jerzy Kruszewski. It was approved by the management of the ministry, and now it will go to the Agency for Health Technology Assessment, which will issue a recommendation.
MZ spokesman Piotr Olechno told PAP that the program is to cost several dozen million zlotys. He added that patients are trying to establish it.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the price of omalizumab – a drug to be reimbursed under the program – is 50 percent in Poland. up to 100 percent higher than in richer countries. MZ intends to negotiate with the manufacturer on this matter.
The research carried out by the provincial consultant for allergology in Mazovia, prof. Bolesław Samoliński shows that asthma affects 4 million children and adults in Poland. Asthma is a disease whose symptoms can be effectively managed but not completely cured.
Asthma is not diagnosed in Poland in a very high percentage of the population. Meanwhile, early diagnosis of this disease and proper treatment would reduce the number of patients with the most severe symptoms of asthma and the number of deaths from it. According to allergists, in order to improve the diagnosis of asthma, it is first of all necessary to sensitize primary care physicians and paediatricians, as well as potential patients.
According to experts, it is very important that asthma medications are well reimbursed, which will increase their availability for patients. According to specialists, constant asthma control costs the state budget much less than the treatment of exacerbations, hospitalization, absenteeism or low productivity at work and school, as well as respiratory disability (PAP).