Sofosbuvir to treat the Hepatitis C infection has been officially registered in the Mongolian Drug Register almost after a year of delays. We have interviewed former Deputy Minister of Health and current City Council Representatives member, Head of the Food Safety and Health Standing Committee at the City Council J.Amarsanaa.
Sofosbuvir tablets are now available for the public?
Yes, it is now available, but under supervision of a physician. Minister of Health and Sports G.Shiilegdamba played important role in registering this drug.
I am very glad that patients with Hepatitis C are now available to get effective treatment. Drug Council has approved the registration of this drug yesterday.
What will be the price the treatment?
The price for this drug has been politicized a lot. Three-month treatment is USD 900 and six-month treatment is USD 1800. Mongolian patients are identified to mostly have one B genotype hepatitis C virus, which is mostly cured over six-month treatment.
But the treatment varies greatly depending on the individual cases. There are only two types of treatment drugs available: Peginterferon injection and Ribavirin tablets, combination of which have 76 percent success results.
How many patients are there in Mongolia?
There are around 450K patients with hepatitis C infection, but the first patients to receive the drug are to be critical patients. We have to prioritize the patients. Some might be confused as if thou there are only one treatment drug. There are many other drugs with similar treatment qualities and even higher. What is important here is to introduce those higher efficiency drugs into Mongolian market as well. It is time to discuss the policy on treatment of patients with hepatitis C.
Does it mean that patients can order this drug?
Orders are to be received at the distributor company. Drugs to be supplied in accordance with orders made, so it might take some time. The producer Glead Science is offering their drug with special pricing only for the Mongolian market, while in USA it is supplied with price tag of USD84K per treatment course.
Therefore, Glead Science is strictly requiring us to only use it within Mongolia, as it supplies the same drug with other pricing to the neighboring Russia and China. Effectiveness of this drug has been reported to be high as over 80 thousand patients have been cured after using the drug.
National Program to Reduce the Hepatitis C Infection in Mongolia has been discussed multiple times at the Ministry of Health. There is need to continue the discussions and pay attention on registration of drugs, without politicizing it much.
Is there possibility to include this drug into health insurance and insurance plans?
It is possible. During my post as Deputy Minister of Health I have inquired about the possibilities with Minister of Population Development and Social Welfare S.Erdene. He was supportive of the idea and ready to cooperate.
Sofosbuvir to treat the Hepatitis C infection has been officially registered in the Mongolian Drug Register almost after a year of delays. We have interviewed former Deputy Minister of Health and current City Council Representatives member, Head of the Food Safety and Health Standing Committee at the City Council J.Amarsanaa.
Sofosbuvir tablets are now available for the public?
Yes, it is now available, but under supervision of a physician. Minister of Health and Sports G.Shiilegdamba played important role in registering this drug.
I am very glad that patients with Hepatitis C are now available to get effective treatment. Drug Council has approved the registration of this drug yesterday.
What will be the price the treatment?
The price for this drug has been politicized a lot. Three-month treatment is USD 900 and six-month treatment is USD 1800. Mongolian patients are identified to mostly have one B genotype hepatitis C virus, which is mostly cured over six-month treatment.
But the treatment varies greatly depending on the individual cases. There are only two types of treatment drugs available: Peginterferon injection and Ribavirin tablets, combination of which have 76 percent success results.
How many patients are there in Mongolia?
There are around 450K patients with hepatitis C infection, but the first patients to receive the drug are to be critical patients. We have to prioritize the patients. Some might be confused as if thou there are only one treatment drug. There are many other drugs with similar treatment qualities and even higher. What is important here is to introduce those higher efficiency drugs into Mongolian market as well. It is time to discuss the policy on treatment of patients with hepatitis C.
Does it mean that patients can order this drug?
Orders are to be received at the distributor company. Drugs to be supplied in accordance with orders made, so it might take some time. The producer Glead Science is offering their drug with special pricing only for the Mongolian market, while in USA it is supplied with price tag of USD84K per treatment course.
Therefore, Glead Science is strictly requiring us to only use it within Mongolia, as it supplies the same drug with other pricing to the neighboring Russia and China. Effectiveness of this drug has been reported to be high as over 80 thousand patients have been cured after using the drug.
National Program to Reduce the Hepatitis C Infection in Mongolia has been discussed multiple times at the Ministry of Health. There is need to continue the discussions and pay attention on registration of drugs, without politicizing it much.
Is there possibility to include this drug into health insurance and insurance plans?
It is possible. During my post as Deputy Minister of Health I have inquired about the possibilities with Minister of Population Development and Social Welfare S.Erdene. He was supportive of the idea and ready to cooperate.