OBJECTIVES

: Despite an implementation of universal health coverage scheme in Thailand, patients still cannot access these innovative medicines due to its high costs. Use of Patient Assistance Program (PAPs) have emerged in many countries especially in countries without public health insurance in an effort to make high costs medicines accessible for patients. These programs have garnered attentions in Thailand recently. Our aim is to explore the state of and prospects for PAPs in Thailand.

METHODS

: To understand current trends, success factors, and challenges in the use of PAPs, we conducted a document review and pharmaceutical website search for PAPs. Interviews were conducted with key informants include research-based pharmaceutical companies and hospital pharmacists managing PAPs.

RESULTS

: Six research-based pharmaceutical companies were preliminary surveyed. We found increasing numbers of PAPs in recent years with forty-six PAPs were currently implemented. Much variability of PAPs were found in the structure of PAPs as well as the application processes and the management of PAPs by each company. Majority of the PAPs are for oncologic drugs and biological products. The structure of PAP was designed by either a global or regional company. From the results, we can categorize PAPs into 5 types includes compassionate use, drug donation program without patient copayment, rebates program, utilization cap program and income screening program

CONCLUSIONS

: An increase in number of PAPs were found in the past few years which suggest a trend of pricing strategy for high cost drugs in Thailand. However, variation in structure and process of these PAPs could raise an issue of program transparency and the role and impact of the program in the country’s healthcare system. Better understanding of these programs may help manufacturers to better design the program as well as the public insurance payer to design their benefit scheme to better serve their beneficiaries.