Journal of University of Malaya Medical Centre  2018;21(2):53-58

ORPHAN DRUGS AND HIGH COST MEDICATIONS: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Chuah SY 1 ; Thong MK 2

Affiliations

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Keywords

Rare Diseases; Orphan Drugs; Affordable Treatment; Non-Communicable Diseases

Country

Malaysia

Language

English

Abstract

There had been increased and strong public interests in rare diseases and orphan drugs as well as the issue of compulsory licencing for expensive medications in Malaysia in the mass-media and social media. We reviewed the issues of orphan drugs and the challenges faced in many countries in developing appropriate health financial modelling as well as getting accurate data on rare diseases. We also reviewed the old off-patent medications and the developments on how policy-makers can intervene to make expensive treatment affordable and sustainable for patients and the country