Announcement of Israel’s New Drug Basket
This evening, the Ministry of Health is set to announce Israel’s new drug basket for 2024, following weeks of deliberations. The final nominations for the 2024 medicine basket will be submitted to the Minister of Health by the basket committee members. They are responsible for recommending the drug and technology budget for the upcoming year.
Impact of War on Healthcare Priorities
The committee acknowledges that the consequences of war necessitate a change in healthcare priorities. Most of the new basket is allocated for cancer treatments and chronic diseases. Additionally, new vaccines, medications, and advanced medical technologies have made it to the final stages. However, despite the significant mental health toll experienced since Black Sabbath, no major advancements are anticipated in psychiatry due to a lack of new drugs submitted for approval.
The Medicines Basket Committee
Every year, the Medicines Basket Committee convenes to approve new medicines through a separate budget dedicated to new drugs and technologies. The committee is made up of volunteers, which includes doctors, health insurance fund representatives, welfare economy personnel, and Ministry of Health representatives. The Israeli drug basket, with an estimated annual budget of NIS 14 billion, is one of the most extensive worldwide. Each year, the basket’s budget increases by NIS 650 million to accommodate new preparations and technologies.
Approval Process
During each meeting, details of each drug and technology proposed by companies are reviewed. This includes the price, the number of patients it would serve annually, and its medical benefits. Each product is given one of four ratings, with A9 ensuring its inclusion in the basket, and B6, B7, or A8 indicating its likely removal.
Focus on Genetic Screening and Cancer Treatments
In the early stages of discussions, a uniform broad genetic screening for the entire population received the highest score – A9. This screening is designed for pre-pregnancy and birth detection of genetic diseases. Also, a significant portion of the basket is allocated to cancer drugs since malignant tumors are the leading cause of death in Israel. This year, many cancer drugs, primarily biological treatments, received high ratings.
Innovations in Diabetes Treatment
New vaccines, injections, and pills to treat diabetes were also highly rated. One notable innovation is the “artificial pancreas” – an insulin pump that continuously monitors sugar levels and self-administers insulin, eliminating the need for injections. The pump also anticipates changes in sugar levels, preventing dangerous hyper or hypoglycemic situations.
Exclusions
As with every year, numerous drugs and technologies were excluded from the list due to their high cost, low benefit, limited patient application, or the existence of alternatives already in the basket. This year, the Alzheimer’s drug Lakambi, external magnetic stimulation treatment for OCD, drugs for rare degenerative diseases, costly cancer drugs with low efficacy, and the expansion of various vaccines were all given low ratings and will not be included in the 2024 basket.
