The Cancer Drug Fund (CDF) is a dedicated source of funding in England for increasing patient access to high-cost cancer drugs, with a fixed budget of £340 million per year, operating since 2016. The CDF follows the appraisal by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) whic

This policy brief provides a summary of a recent review of the definition of rare diseases, high cost and how HTA has been used in the case of rare diseases in seven countries. The countries were purposively selected based on them having established HTA policies and availability of resources in the

Because of their rarity, rare diseases are often treated with what the industry refers to as ‘orphan drugs’. These group of drugs are quite expensive because of the fewer number of people suffering from such sickness and usually provide low profit to manufacturer compared to other common drug for n

MEAs aim at early access to high-cost innovative medicines at pre-determined terms that can ensure the financial sustainability of healthcare systems. However, their successful adoption hinges on a consideration of various factors to address the unique challenges faced by different nations. The a

Open data is widely recognized as valuable, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for up-to-date information systems, leading all sectors to acknowledge its significance in enhancing efficiency, fairness, and societal development. These open data movements observed during

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by elevated cholesterol levels, significantly increasing the risk of heart disease. Early detection through genetic screening can play a crucial role in preventing serious health outcomes. This study marks the first global eco

President Obama’s health care law is putting new strains on some of the nation’s most hard-pressed hospitals, by cutting aid they use to pay for emergency care for illegal immigrants, which they have long been required to provide.The federal government has been spending $20 billion annually to reimb

Spouses of heart attack victims have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, even if their partner survives, Danish research suggests.The study found that in the year after losing a spouse to a heart attack, partners were three times more likely to start taking anti-depressants.Even if their pa

The drug, linaclotide, will be sold under the brand name Linzess and carry a boxed warning that it should not be used in patients 16 or younger, the agency said.An estimated 63 million people suffer from chronic constipation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, an estimated

(Reuters) – Victims of thalidomide said on Saturday an apology from the German inventor of the drug that caused birth defects in thousands of babies around the world was too little too late.Thalidomide, developed by the German firm Gruenenthal, was marketed internationally to pregnant women in the l