Big news from China! 🇨🇳 They've just made a huge move to help people with rare diseases by adding 13 new medicines to their medical insurance drug catalog. This means there are now over 90 rare-disease drugs covered by insurance in the country! 🎉
The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) and other authorities teamed up to bring in treatments for conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, intractable epilepsy, and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. These are big words for some really tough diseases that affect only a few people.
Rare diseases are called \"rare\" for a reason—they don't happen often, and that means fewer patients and high costs for research and development. But China is changing the game by making these life-saving drugs more accessible and affordable. 💪
The NHSA has been on a roll, adjusting the national medical insurance catalog every year for seven years straight! They've added coverage for diseases like spinal muscular atrophy, Gaucher disease, and myasthenia gravis. Talk about commitment! 💯
\"Doctors and patients alike are hoping to see more high-quality and life-saving medicines added to the country's medical insurance,\" said Zhang Shuyang, president of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
But wait, there's more! China has also set up a nationwide network for rare-disease diagnosis and treatment. As of October 2024, over 400 medical institutions have joined forces. This network uses medical referrals and telemedicine (think doctor visits over the internet!) to reach every corner of the country. 📡
This is a big step forward in making sure everyone gets the health care they need, no matter how rare their condition might be. Way to go, China! 👏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
