A New Era in Cancer Treatment with Immunotherapies
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, this regulation—developed in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security—aims to ease access to critical cancer treatments. With the update, immunotherapy drugs used for classic Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, colorectal cancer, small-cell lung cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer, among others, will be covered by the public insurance system.
Promising Development for Cystic Fibrosis Patients
The new regulation also includes an important step forward for patients with cystic fibrosis—a hereditary and systemic disease that severely affects the lungs, liver, pancreas, intestines, and sinuses. A drug used in the treatment of this condition will also be reimbursed by SGK.
Approximately 49,000 Patients to Benefit
Dr. Hasan Basri Velioğlu, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, stated that nearly 48,000 cancer patients and around 1,000 cystic fibrosis patients are expected to benefit from this development. He explained that immunotherapy drugs, also known as targeted therapies, support the immune system in detecting and destroying cancer cells, and can be administered either alone or alongside chemotherapy.
Accessible in All Major Healthcare Institutions
The newly reimbursed medications will be available through all university hospitals, public hospitals, training and research hospitals, and private medical institutions with oncology units. Velioğlu emphasized that patients will be able to access these drugs directly from the hospital where they are receiving treatment, with only a specialist physician’s prescription and single-doctor medication report required.
Total Number of Reimbursed Cancer Drugs Rises to 784
With this latest update, the total number of cancer medications included in SGK’s reimbursement list has reached 784. The Ministry of Health announced that once official procedures are finalized, patients will be able to access these innovative immunotherapy drugs completely free of charge.
