Costs of plasmocytic myeloma therapy in the drug programme at a Regional Oncology Centre in Poland

INTRODUCTION

The rapidly growing market for drugs, including oncology and haemato-oncology drugs, is generating enormous financial expenditure for healthcare systems. In Poland, access to high-cost treatments is possible mainly within drug programmes, funded by public healthcare systems. The path of proceeding adopted in Polish regulations is similar to the solutions adopted in other countries.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the actual costs incurred by the treatment entity in the process of treating patients under the drug programme at the Regional Oncology Centre in Olsztyn, north-east Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The oncology drug programme B.54 'Treatment of patients with refractory or malignant plasmocytic myeloma' implemented at the Regional Oncology Centre in Poland between 2018-2021, was selected for the analysis. The choice of the B.54 programme was based on the small population of patients meeting the inclusion criteria for this programme, and the large number of diagnostic procedures stipulated in the drug programme description. On average, 25 patients were treated per year. The financial analysis used the financial categories related to hospital billing information. The costs were presented based on the purchasing power parity of money in 2021, i.e. 1 USD-inter is equivalent to 1.837 PLN.

RESULTS

The flat rate form of financing medical services does not cover the actual costs of treatment. Providing patients with necessary medical services without their full coverage by the public payer, burdens the budget of the centre and may lead to indebtedness of the treatment entity.

CONCLUSIONS

Without an increase in the valuation of benefits under drug programmes, corresponding to the actual costs of treatment, the expected increase in access to innovative therapies will be difficult to accomplish.

Overview and Analysis of the Cost of Drug Programs in Poland: Public Payer Expenditures and Coverage of Cancer and Non-Neoplastic Diseases Related Drug Therapies from 2015-2018 Years

Background

In Poland drug programmes developed by the Minister of Health and financed by the National Health Fund are special reimbursement frameworks of innovative, expensive, and mostly hospital based medical products used for a small number of patients.

Research Design

The research presented in this paper is based on data analysis published by the National Health Fund in Poland. The analysis focused on estimating public payer expenditure on drugs available within drug programmes from 2015 to 2018.

Results

In subsequent years, reimbursement of drugs used within drug programmes was associated with the National Health Fund budget expenditure of 635 mln USD, 755 mln USD, 854 mln USD, and 921 mln USD, respectively. Reimbursement of oncology drug programmes constituted 48.1%, 42.5%, 47.1%, and 52.4% and were approximately 305, 312, 402, 483 mln USD, whereas values of non-oncology drug programmes were approximately 330, 434, 452, and 438 mln USD which constituted 51.9%, 57.5%, 52.9%, and 47.6% respectively.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the expenditure on drug programs in Poland are increasing every year, they undoubtedly improve the patient’s access to the most innovative oncological and nononcological therapies in the Polish healthcare system.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of multiple sclerosis patients receiving disease-modifying treatment in Poland

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of this study was to collect and analyse data on relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This observational, multicentre study with prospective data collection included RRMS patients receiving DMTs reimbursed by the National Health Fund (NFZ) in Poland, monitored by the Therapeutic Programme Monitoring System (SMPT). Demographic profiles, disability status, and treatment modalities were analysed.

RESULTS

Data from 11,632 RRMS patients was collected (from 15,368 new prescriptions), including 10,649 patients in the first-line and 983 in the second-line therapeutic programme of DMTs. The proportion of females to males was 2.39 in the first-line and 1.91 in the second-line. The mean age at DMTs start was 36.6 years in the first-line and 35.1 in the second-line. The median time from the first symptoms to MS diagnosis was 7.4 months, and from MS diagnosis to treatment it was 18.48 months. A total of 43.4% of MS patients started DMT during the 12 months following diagnosis. There was a positive correlation between the duration from MS diagnosis to the start of DMT and a higher initial EDSS value [correlation 0.296 (p < 0.001)]. About 10% of patients stopped DMTs. In Poland, about one third of all MS patients are treated in both lines, and the choice of first-line treatment depends on the region of the country.

CONCLUSIONS

In Poland there is a need to increase MS patient access to DMTs by improving the organisation of drug programmes.