AstraZeneca has recently become a participant in the Swiss Patient Access Program (SPAP). Through this initiative, cancer patients are enabled to receive medically indicated treatments even when these are not reimbursed by health insurance. AstraZeneca is providing its oncology drugs at no cost, showcasing its commitment to those affected in Switzerland.
The Swiss Patient Access Program (SPAP) is an initiative of the Swiss Society of Medical Oncology (SSMO) and is managed and overseen by it. After a successful three-year pilot phase (2019 – 2022), SPAP was officially launched on July 1, 2023. AstraZeneca is proud to now be an official partner and supporter of this vital program for cancer patients in Switzerland.
Switzerland's healthcare system is renowned for its excellence and is considered one of the best globally. However, access to highly innovative medications in Switzerland is not always possible, and when it is, it often comes with delays. A specific provision in the ordinance on health insurance (Articles 71a-d) facilitates the assessment of individual cases and their reimbursement by health insurers. This provision is crucial for cancer patients as it allows for treatment even if the medication has not yet been approved by Swissmedic or is not listed on the Mandatory Health Insurance (OKP) reimbursement list.
Significant Burden for Affected Individuals
Despite the option for individual case reimbursement, situations arise where patients are denied medically indicated treatments. Such rejections by health insurance companies impose significant stress on both the affected individuals and their treating physicians. The Swiss Patient Access Program (SPAP), initiated by the Swiss Society of Medical Oncology (SSMO), addresses this issue. It ensures that no patients are left behind, and that they can have access to necessary therapies.
«The approach involves reviewing hardship cases by independent medical experts, who then issue a binding recommendation for the license holders,» explains Prof. Dr. med. Markus Borner, Co-President of the SSMO. If the treating physician and an independent panel of experts agree, AstraZeneca, as the license holder, supplies the medication. This process ensures that patients receive the medically indicated drugs through an independent, controlled, and scientifically validated procedure.
Pursuing a Long-term Solution
It is anticipated that such hardship cases will continue to exist even after the health insurance ordinance revision took effect on January 1, 2024. These are individuals in urgent need of therapy but are not receiving it. Hence, the Swiss Patient Access Program (SPAP) will remain crucial in the upcoming years, offering a solution for patients within the oncological landscape.
Moreover, SPAP aims to develop a concept and an implementable model for future quality registries within three years. These registries are to collect suitable parameters for demonstrating patient benefit. The program also intends to help find a long-term solution for addressing hardship cases.
«As a highly innovative pharmaceutical company, we continuously invest in the development of new cancer treatments,» says Alison Dziarmaga, Head of Oncology at AstraZeneca Switzerland. «Our ambition is to eliminate cancer as a cause of death by 2030.» The increasing complexity in this innovative field of drug research poses challenges for regulatory authorities. Thus, timely solutions for drug approval and reimbursement are in high demand. «We collaborate with associations and authorities to develop sustainable models for innovative therapies, ensuring that exceptional cases do not become commonplace. Patients should never bear the consequences of systemic issues. Therefore, AstraZeneca views the Swiss Patient Access Program as an exceptionally important initiative for Switzerland and its society,» states Dziarmaga.
Media contact
Tel. +41 (0) 41 725 75 75; media.switzerland@astrazeneca.com
Christian Bitschnau, Corporate Affairs Director, AstraZeneca Switzerland
SSMO
The Swiss Society of Medical Oncology (SSMO) is the professional association and specialist society for doctors specialising in medical oncology. The SSMO is non-profit-making and does not pursue any economic goals.
AstraZeneca in Switzerland
AstraZeneca is a British pharmaceutical company that has been operating in Switzerland for almost 50 years. The company is one of the highest revenue pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland and operates in the following therapeutic areas: oncology, respiratory diseases and immunology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disorders plus vaccines and immunotherapies, which also includes medicines for the control of COVID-19. The primary aim of the over 285 employees is to make new medicines available to affected patients as quickly as possible. In Switzerland, more than 230,000 people are treated with a drug from AstraZeneca. The company expects over 35 new therapies to be authorised by 2026. AstraZeneca has set itself the target of making the Swiss healthcare system more sustainable and more resilient. To make its contribution to a healthy planet and healthy people, the company is working tirelessly to reduce its CO2 emissions and waste. It has therefore set itself the target of becoming CO2-negative by 2030.
Further information about AstraZeneca Switzerland: www.astrazeneca.ch
CH-9396 (04/2024)