BPJS removes chemotherapy drug to patients` dismay
(WorldNews Indonesia)

The Health Care and Social Security Agency’s (BPJS Kesehatan) move to cross off breast cancer chemotherapy medicine trastuzumab (Herceptin) from its coverage list has left patients dejected and prompted one to file a lawsuit. The BPJS has stopped covering trastuzumab for patients treated under its state-funded National Health Insurance-Healthy Indonesia Card (JKN-KIS) scheme since April 1, arguing that the medication’s effectiveness was not empirically proven. Patient Juniarti, 46, from East Jakarta was denied access to the medicine after she was diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer in May. Following her mastectomy in June, her doctor nevertheless prescribed...