Plans will have to provide oral medications for home treatment of cancer

From January 2014, health plans operating in the country have to offer 36 oral medications indicated for cancer therapies, used by patients at home treatment. The change is part of the expansion of the list of procedures required to be offered by operators. This was announced on Tuesday (28) by the National Health Agency (ANS) and the Ministry of Health According to the CEO of ANS, Andrew Long, these services will become effective after public consultation and approval of the resolution rules .

According to him, the public consultation will not change the decision to offer oral medications, which may serve to expand the list released today. We expect broad participation of society. In the latter role, held every two years, the NSA has gotten more than 6000 contributions, he said. The announcement was attended by Health Minister Alexandre Padilha.

The remedies have 54 cancer indications, including those of the prostate, breast, lung, kidney, stomach and skin, colorectal cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. The drugs serve as an alternative or complement to other treatments, such as traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

By rol current health plans are only required to grant oral treatment against cancer in local health service (hospital rooms and chemotherapy).

Now, according to Andrew Long, each plan must establish logical distribution of medicines direct distribution; definition of agreements with private pharmacies, or mechanisms for reimbursement to patients.

Also according to the new rules, the operator can not limit the amount of medication used by the patient. He is entitled to the amount prescribed by the doctor while being treated.

Other changes in the new list include increasing the number of consultations with nutritionists, psychologists and physiotherapists. Already the PET (abbreviation for Positron Emission Tomography, in free translation) Scan, employed for monitoring the cancer had extended use from three to eight nominations.

The list includes a total of 80 medical and dental procedures among drugs, tests, surgeries and therapies, and expands the indications of other items already offered by 30 operators.

The List of Procedures and Health Events is mandatory for all contracted health plans from the entry into force of Law 9.656/98 and is available for consultation on the website of ANS. They can contribute to civil society, doctors and specialists in the period from June 7 to July 7. The list update is done every two years.

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