When will bedaquiline be available nationwide?

Bedaquiline is a new anti-tuberculosis drug mainly used to treat patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The drug was first developed by Johnson & Johnson in 2012 and was approved for marketing in European and American countries. China's State Food and Drug Administration approved bedaquiline for the treatment of specific drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2018, and it was officially included in the national medical insurance drug catalog in 2020, marking the gradual expansion of its domestic clinical use and medical insurance coverage. At present, bedaquiline has been supplied in many designated tuberculosis hospitals across the country, with certain accessibility.

With the country’s emphasis on tuberculosis prevention and control and the advancement of the national tuberculosis prevention and control plan, the supply system of bedaquiline is also gradually improving. Around 2021, the drug has been routinely supplied to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi and other provinces and cities. More and more provincial disease control centers and designated medical institutions have successively introduced the drug and cooperated with the implementation of standardized treatment plans. At present, the nationwide launch of bedaquiline has been basically completed, and patients in most areas can obtain the drug in designated hospital pharmacies with a doctor's prescription.

In terms of price, the original bedaquiline drug has been included in the national medical insurance catalog and implemented the nationally negotiated medical insurance payment standards, significantly reducing the patient's medication burden. The actual out-of-pocket ratio and amount after reimbursement from medical insurance vary slightly due to local policies. It is recommended that patients go to the local designated hospital pharmacy for specific price information. Before being included in medical insurance, the cost of each course of treatment for the original version was as high as more than 10,000 yuan; after being included in medical insurance, the out-of-pocket price dropped to an affordable range for most patients. In addition, overseas countries such as India have launched generic versions with relatively low prices. Each course of treatment costs about two to three thousand yuan. Some patients will also obtain it through formal cross-border drug purchase channels.

Overall, bedaquiline has basically completed its nationwide launch and distribution. With the support of medical insurance policies, it has provided a more accessible, safe and effective treatment plan for Chinese drug-resistant tuberculosis patients. As medical institutions in various places gradually popularize the clinical use experience of bedaquiline, and the national public health system pays great attention to drug-resistant tuberculosis, the coverage and medical insurance support of this drug in primary hospitals may be further enhanced in the future, which will help my country achieve the goal of tuberculosis control and elimination.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/