The National Health Fund (NHF) has announced that the active pharma-ceucal ingredient (API), Etaner-cept, used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis, has been added to the NHFcard drug list.
The NHFcard subsidy for each 25 milligram injection kit is $37,747.24. This is the second highest subsidy offered by the NHF for any drug on its NHFcard drug list and brings the total number of active ingredients to 191.
Dr Karel De Ceulaer, consultant rheumatologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, says the addition of Etanercept to the NHFcard drug list, is a positive move that will provide hope for people who have gone through all the other drugs for treating their condition, but who still have ongoing inflammation.
"They will be helped by this drug; otherwise, they would be crippled.
Īt reduces the need for them using wheelchairs," De Ceulaer said.
He noted that the drug was not recommended for everyone, but only for those who do not respond to the other drugs.
"I am very pleased with this move by the NHF," he said.
A new formulation of ketoprofen called Bi-Profenid150 milligram tablets, used for treating arthritis, was added as well. It has a subsidy of $50.12 per tablet.
OTHER ADDITIONS TO NHF card Drug List
Two new Flexpen injections - Insulin Aspart, as well as Insulin Aspart and Aspart Protamine, used for the treatment of diabetes. Flexpens are pre-filled with insulin and doses are easy to administer with increased accuracy and the pens are disposed of on com-pletion. They provide convenience for the diabetic since no refrigera-tion is needed as in the case with vials of insulin that are administered using syringes (injection needles).
The NHF subsidy for each three-millilitre Flexpen cartridge is $170.66.
Insulin Glargine injection in three-millilitre cartridges and the NHFcard subsidy is $243.79 per cartridge.
A new formulation of insulin - Apidra Injection (Insulin Glulisine) with a subsidy of $170.66 for each three-millilitre cartridge and $568.85 for the 10-millilitre vial injection.
A new generic brand, Glimepiride (Sandoz) tablets also used in the treatment of diabetes, with subsidy of $29.31 per two milligram.
Three new glucometers to the Diabetic Supplies Programme, as well as, test strips and lancets that are used along with the meters: The glucometers are the Advocate Glucometer and the Glucolab Glucometer - supplied by Qualcare; Freestyle Freedom Glucometer - supplied by HD Hopwood.
A new strength of Intaxel (Paclitaxel) 100 milligram/17 millilitre injection, used for the treatment of breast cancer with a subsidy of $10,608.
A new-strength injection for Risperidone - the Risperdal Consta 50 milligram injection, used for the treatment of psychosis and major depression. This injection receives a subsidy of $16,894.82.
A new-strength tablet, Hyzaar 100/12.5 milligram tablet (Losartan + hydrochorothiazide), used for the treatment of hypertension and also listed under diabetes. It has a subsidy of $87.80.
