The reduction of the price of rare disease drugs can draw on the experience of anti-cancer drugs

The executive meeting of the State Council held on February 11th proposed that from March 1st this year, the first batch of 21 rare disease drugs and 4 raw materials, with reference to anti-cancer drugs on the import link to reduce the value-added tax by 3%, the domestic link may choose to be based on the 3% simple method of VAT. A reduction in the tax rate to 3 per cent from the previous 16 per cent would undoubtedly reduce the burden of medication on patients.
nearly two years, China's policy measures against rare diseases have been introduced frequently. The Outline of the "Healthy China 2030" Program, released in 2017, clearly sets out the task of improving the supply guarantee system for rare diseases. In 2018, the relevant departments formulated the First List of Rare Diseases, and promoted the accelerated entry of foreign rare disease drugs into China's market through the Announcement on The Review and Approval of Optimised Drug Registration. Coupled with the tax incentives introduced this year, the policy overlay effect will benefit the group of rare diseases more.
but also to see that patients with rare diseases have more to look forward to. For example, only 57 rare disease drugs are currently covered by health insurance in the country, and only 10 are fully reimbursable. Whether more rare disease drugs can be included in the scope of medical insurance reimbursement and increase the proportion of reimbursement is worth thinking about. In the author's opinion, in order to further reduce the burden of drug use in patients with rare diseases, it may be useful to copy the experience of cancer drug price reduction. Since last year, China has received preliminary results in order to promote the price reduction of anti-cancer drugs. When 17 anti-cancer drugs were included in the Medicare reimbursement list, the average decline was 56.7 per cent. It is recommended that more rare disease drugs be included in health insurance through price negotiations in exchange for volume, thereby further reducing the burden on patients with rare diseases.
although a variety of rare disease drug raw materials to implement zero tariffs, but on this basis, whether it can be like anti-cancer drugs directly implement zero tariffs, is also a question that can be explored. In addition, it may be useful to support the development of rare disease drugs as well as the development of domestic anti-cancer drugs. At present, drug companies are reluctant to develop rare disease drugs due to high investment in drug research and development, as well as the low number of sick people, affecting clinical trials and drug market launches. In this regard, the relevant departments can formulate preferential policies, reduce drug research and development costs, open a green channel for drug review and approval to think of a way. It should be pointed out that rare disease drugs can not be separated from legal escort. If the United States in 1983 on the introduction of the "rare disease drug use law", China should also introduce relevant laws and regulations. (Health Report)