Oncologists Urge Health Ministry to Prioritize Advanced Cancer Treatments for 2027 Basket
The Israeli Oncology Association has submitted its prioritized list of preferred cancer treatments and drugs for the upcoming year's health basket to the Ministry of Health. Topping the recommendations is a treatment for bladder cancer that demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival. Immunotherapy for stomach cancer, already a global standard, was also highlighted as a high priority. The association is urging the inclusion of early-stage cancer treatments in the 2027 health basket, warning of a growing disparity between publicly funded options in Israel and those available to patients with private insurance.
The experts behind the recommendations, including Prof. Ravit Geva and Prof. Ido Wolff, emphasized prioritizing treatments for early-stage cancers where a cure is possible. However, some treatments for metastatic disease were also included, particularly where Israel lags behind international standards. The document warns that this gap could exacerbate inequality among cancer patients based on their financial status, potentially impacting their survival rates.
Specific recommendations include a combination immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugate for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, showing substantial reductions in mortality and disease progression risks. For stomach cancer, the association stressed a "significant strategic gap" in Israel compared to global standards for immunotherapy, affecting an estimated 100 patients. Other highlighted treatments include Enhertu for HER2-positive breast cancer, Kisqali for early-stage breast cancer, and Jemperli for rectal cancer, which could potentially eliminate the need for surgery and radiation.
The association expressed concern about creating a "two-tier healthcare system" for cancer patients, where access to advanced treatments depends on financial means. They noted that while new drug development improves life expectancy, it widens the gap between public funding and private insurance coverage. The oncologists stressed that all top 20 recommended indications are medically crucial, and their ranking is due to resource limitations, not differing importance.
Despite the urgent need for these advanced treatments, the budget allocated for the health basket remains unchanged at 650 million shekels, the same as last year. This stagnation is attributed to the current political climate surrounding elections, with no expected increase or decrease in funding.
