On December 15, 2023, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) endorsed “Joint Statement on the Implementation of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling”.

In addition to our Organization, this Joint Statement is endorsed by the Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA Japan), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, the Japanese Society of Clinical Oncology, the Japanese Cancer Association, and the Social Insurance Union of Societies Related to Internal Medicine.
This joint statement will be submitted to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr. Keizo Takemi, and other relevant officials.

Currently, the cancer gene panel tests (cancer Comprehensive Genomic Profiling tests) approved for use under the Japanese Health insurance system is only for ” solid tumors for which no standard treatment is available, or with local progression or metastasis for which standard treatment has been terminated (including those for whom termination is expected)”. Under these circumstances, there have been unfortunate cases in which patients have missed treatment opportunities due to deterioration of their general condition, etc., even when a cancer gene panel tests has revealed a gene mutation that can be treated with drug therapy, and it is too late to do so. In order to ensure that patients who need the most appropriate treatment can receive it at the most appropriate time, a number of proposals have been made by related organizations to resolve issues related to insurance reimbursement. We share a strong awareness of these issues and strongly request that the following points in particular be implemented in the FY2024 revision of the medical service fee.

Request

Expand insurance coverage for cancer gene panel testing so that it can be done at the appropriate time from the time of initial treatment.

 

Please note that the joint statement documents are only available in Japanese.