Plan To Aid Long-time Victims Of Rare Lung Disease

The Alliance for Rare Diseases said on Wednesday that it will launch a scheme to give drugs free to long-time sufferers of a rare lung disorder.

Around 350 people in Hong Kong suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which causes irreversible decline in lung function.

The alliance, in a joint effort with a drug company, will make arrangements to deliver the drugs free for IPF patients, but only after they’ve been buying the drug – which costs up to HK$20,000 per month – for two full years.

Public hospital patients who get the drug via community pharmacies run by non-profit organisations will get an additional five months’ worth of free medication, meaning they only have to pay 19 out of 24 months before they’re given the drug free of charge.

The drug is not included in the Hospital Authority’s list of approved drugs – something that alliance president Tsang Kin-ping says makes it very difficult for patients.

Onset of IPF normally happens for people aged between 55 and 75. The survival rate after five years is around 20 percent. The drug helps slow the decline of lung function in sufferers, and lowers the mortality rate of the disease.