What is the medical insurance reimbursement rate for Lapatinib and how to apply?

Lapatinib (Lapatinib) is a targeted therapy drug mainly used to treat patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, especially as adjuvant therapy on the basis of traditional chemotherapy or other targeted drug treatments. Due to the remarkable therapeutic effect of lapatinib, especially in some breast cancer patients who have failed or relapsed after treatment, it has been widely used around the world. However, the domestic medical insurance reimbursement situation is relatively complicated, especially in the context of the delisting of the original lapatinib drug, how patients obtain the drug is still a thorny issue.

First of all, the original drug lapatinib has been withdrawn from the domestic market, resulting in patients being unable to be reimbursed through national medical insurance. Patients' current choices mainly include overseas original versions and generic drugs. In foreign markets, especially in Turkey, the original lapatinib drug is still available, and the price of lapatinib produced in Turkey is about RMB 2,000 per bottle (0.25g × 70 tablets). Patients can also choose to purchase drugs through international purchasing channels, but they need to understand the legality and related policies of cross-border drug purchasing.

Foreigngeneric drugs are usually more affordable. For example, generic drugs produced in India and Bangladesh generally cost around RMB 600. They have basically the same ingredients as the original drugs, and their effects are widely recognized. These drugs provide patients with more economical treatment options, but are still not reimbursable through the national health insurance system.

In summary, the domestic medical insurance reimbursement policy for lapatinib is relatively complex, and patients need to apply for drug reimbursement through special approval channels, especially for the use of generic drugs. To a certain extent, patients can still receive a certain level of reimbursement through personal medical insurance or commercial insurance, depending on the region and individual circumstances.

Keyword tags: lapatinib, medical insurance reimbursement, generic drugs, imported drugs,HER2-positive breast cancer, drug application

Reference:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/tyverb