Roche launches hepatitis B treatment access program (Philippines)

[Guest guest]

http://www.malaya.com.ph/july18/liv3.html

Roche launches hepatitis B treatment access program

HEPATITIS B is a deadly disease with a high prevalence rate in the Philippines.

Studies show that in the Philippines there is a hepatitis B carrier rate of 9%.

This means that out of 10 Filipinos at least 1 is a carrier of the hepatitis B

virus. It is estimated that more than 7.7 million people are chronically

infected with hepatitis B, of whom between 1.1 and 1.9 million are expected to

die prematurely of cirrhosis or liver cancer. This makes chronic hepatitis B one

of the most challenging infectious diseases to manage.

There are several reasons for the high burden of hepatitis B in the country. The

two main reasons are lack of awareness of the disease coupled with inability to

afford the expensive treatment.

Pharmaceutical company Roche sets to help address the problem. In line with the

government’s thrust to provide easier access to medications, Roche recently

launched the Pegassist Easy Access Plan for patients with hepatitis B.

Through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, patients with hepatitis B can have

access to the peg-interferon alfa-2a hepatitis treatment medication with

discounts up to as much as 50%. " The Pegassist Easy Access Plan socializes the

medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the

medication will get a higher discount accordingly, " said Dr. Dennis Dioko, Roche

specialty business unit director.

" For patients who are interested to see if they can qualify for discounts

through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, there are several ways to find out.

First, if they are seeing a gastroenterologist, their doctor can refer them to

the Hepatitis Hotline (718-7620). If they are not currently seeing a doctor,

they can call the hotline directly and the hotline can refer them to a

gastroenterologist nearest to them for consultation. "

According to Dr. Dioko, " After hepatitis B patients call the hotline – manned by

the Hepatitis Hotline nurse – and have already been prescribed Peg interferon

alfa-2a by their doctors, they will be referred to a financial assessment

agency. The financial assessment agency will then conduct an evaluation of the

patient to determine the discount rate applicable to the patient. Once the

financial assessment has been completed, the agency will decide how much of a

discount the patient is eligible to receive. Patients can receive as much as 50%

off of the medication. "

The Hepatitis Hotline nurse will then inform the patient of their qualified

discount rate. At this point, the nurse will also explain to the patients the

details on how they can purchase their medication at the discounted rate through

the plan’s official distributor.

" In addition to providing discounts on the medication, hepatitis B patients will

also be provided with free selected hepatitis B laboratory tests that would have

otherwise been very expensive. Tests such as HBV DNA Testing and

S-quantification are samples of laboratory tests patients can have access to

through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan. The hotline can guide them accordingly

on how to avail of these discounted labs, " added Dr. Dioko.

The program hopes to be able to make treatment and care available to a wider

range of hepatitis B patients and give them the opportunity to get the

medication they need. In addition to discounted medication and discounted

laboratory tests, the hotline will also provide a nurse assistance program that

will continue follow-ups on patients throughout the course of treatment. And for

patients who wish to pay through credit card, they can opt to pay via staggered

payments to make the payments even easier on their budgets.

[Guest guest]

http://www.malaya.com.ph/july18/liv3.html

Roche launches hepatitis B treatment access program

HEPATITIS B is a deadly disease with a high prevalence rate in the Philippines.

Studies show that in the Philippines there is a hepatitis B carrier rate of 9%.

This means that out of 10 Filipinos at least 1 is a carrier of the hepatitis B

virus. It is estimated that more than 7.7 million people are chronically

infected with hepatitis B, of whom between 1.1 and 1.9 million are expected to

die prematurely of cirrhosis or liver cancer. This makes chronic hepatitis B one

of the most challenging infectious diseases to manage.

There are several reasons for the high burden of hepatitis B in the country. The

two main reasons are lack of awareness of the disease coupled with inability to

afford the expensive treatment.

Pharmaceutical company Roche sets to help address the problem. In line with the

government’s thrust to provide easier access to medications, Roche recently

launched the Pegassist Easy Access Plan for patients with hepatitis B.

Through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, patients with hepatitis B can have

access to the peg-interferon alfa-2a hepatitis treatment medication with

discounts up to as much as 50%. " The Pegassist Easy Access Plan socializes the

medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the

medication will get a higher discount accordingly, " said Dr. Dennis Dioko, Roche

specialty business unit director.

" For patients who are interested to see if they can qualify for discounts

through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, there are several ways to find out.

First, if they are seeing a gastroenterologist, their doctor can refer them to

the Hepatitis Hotline (718-7620). If they are not currently seeing a doctor,

they can call the hotline directly and the hotline can refer them to a

gastroenterologist nearest to them for consultation. "

According to Dr. Dioko, " After hepatitis B patients call the hotline – manned by

the Hepatitis Hotline nurse – and have already been prescribed Peg interferon

alfa-2a by their doctors, they will be referred to a financial assessment

agency. The financial assessment agency will then conduct an evaluation of the

patient to determine the discount rate applicable to the patient. Once the

financial assessment has been completed, the agency will decide how much of a

discount the patient is eligible to receive. Patients can receive as much as 50%

off of the medication. "

The Hepatitis Hotline nurse will then inform the patient of their qualified

discount rate. At this point, the nurse will also explain to the patients the

details on how they can purchase their medication at the discounted rate through

the plan’s official distributor.

" In addition to providing discounts on the medication, hepatitis B patients will

also be provided with free selected hepatitis B laboratory tests that would have

otherwise been very expensive. Tests such as HBV DNA Testing and

S-quantification are samples of laboratory tests patients can have access to

through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan. The hotline can guide them accordingly

on how to avail of these discounted labs, " added Dr. Dioko.

The program hopes to be able to make treatment and care available to a wider

range of hepatitis B patients and give them the opportunity to get the

medication they need. In addition to discounted medication and discounted

laboratory tests, the hotline will also provide a nurse assistance program that

will continue follow-ups on patients throughout the course of treatment. And for

patients who wish to pay through credit card, they can opt to pay via staggered

payments to make the payments even easier on their budgets.