By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Feinberg’s Simulation-Based Training Program Wins Innovations Challenge
    November 16, 2012
    ACA Delays
    Top 8 ACA Delays: Blatantly Illegal or Temporary Courses of Action?
    July 7, 2014
    Vegetarina Dental Concerns Marielaina Perrone DDS
    Oral Health Concerns For Vegetarians
    February 14, 2013
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are New “Quality of Life Drugs” Worth the Expense?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > Are New “Quality of Life Drugs” Worth the Expense?
NewsSpecialties

Are New “Quality of Life Drugs” Worth the Expense?

Andrew Schorr
Andrew Schorr
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Very recently a review committee in the U.K. made a preliminary recommendation that the government’s National Health Service should not pay for a newly approved medicine that greatly reduces or alleviates the symptoms of myelofibrosis (MF). MF develops when there is progressive scarring in the bone marrow that affects one’s ability to make blood cells. Other organs like the spleen and liver try to take over the job and they become enlarged. Along with that, a patient experiences itching, fatigue and weight loss, as well as general malaise and suffering.

Very recently a review committee in the U.K. made a preliminary recommendation that the government’s National Health Service should not pay for a newly approved medicine that greatly reduces or alleviates the symptoms of myelofibrosis (MF). MF develops when there is progressive scarring in the bone marrow that affects one’s ability to make blood cells. Other organs like the spleen and liver try to take over the job and they become enlarged. Along with that, a patient experiences itching, fatigue and weight loss, as well as general malaise and suffering. While a new oral medicine, Jakafi in the U.S. and Jakavi in Europe, has not been proven to reduce or reverse the scarring (fibrosis), most patients feel the drug gives them back a full and productive life. However, it’s very expensive, more than $7,000 a month.

I know all about this personally, since I was officially diagnosed with MF nine months ago and began taking the medicine as symptoms developed last fall. It has worked wonders. I thank my lucky stars that my U.S. private insurance pays for it. It allows me to be productive, support my family and contribute to others. My belief is that the expenditure is worth it not only for me, but for society. By helping me feel good I can work, pay taxes and support others.

The UK panel faces tough choices. Money spent on a “quality of life” drug has to come from somewhere in the health system. I understand that. I also understand these drugs are priced very high to bring a return on investment to the pharmaceutical company, often initially a smaller one that took the risk to develop an important new medicine. In this case, the pre-existing treatments are not very effective.

More Read

ready for icd-10? HIS
To Heal a Heart, Train Harder
CarePlanners New Model for Helping Mom and Dad
Should You Give CBD Oil to Children?
Health Wonk Review: The Week’s Healthcare News
SAS and GSK Pull Big Pharma Into Big Data Collaboration

It would be great if this new drug can be shown in the long run to treat and reverse the underlying disease or significantly lengthen survival. So far there is no evidence for that. Fortunately, other drugs, perhaps used in combination, may lead to that result. But, in the meantime, should the UK, and possibly other government health systems, force patients to suffer when breakthrough medicines exist?

Fortunately, the decision is not final yet and there is a period of comment until June. My hope is the pharmaceutical company, advocates, patients, and the government can all reach a middle ground. Knowing how this “quality of life” drug has allowed me to live a full life, I would hate it if that opportunity is denied to my brothers and sisters in the U.K. or anywhere else.

What are your views on the tough choices for paying for such treatments in these tight economic times?

Wishing you the best of health!

Andrew

TAGGED:cancerpharma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

EHR deadline pushed back HIS
eHealthMedical RecordsNewsPolicy & LawPublic Health

CMS Pushes EHR Meaningful Use Deadline Back One Year: What It Means For You

January 3, 2014

Following the French on Alzheimer’s care

October 19, 2012
CardiologySpecialties

4 Important Tips To Maintain Your Cardiovascular Health

March 23, 2020
News

Weekly Dose of Top 5 Healthcare Stories You Might’ve Missed

January 12, 2016
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?