The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) not to reimburse ripretinib (Qinlock®) from the basic health care package. This medicinal product can be used in certain patients with a rare form of cancer in the stomach or intestines. The reason for this advice was the placing of the medicinal product in the so-called ‘lock procedure for expensive medicinal products’. Missing information from the marketing authorisation holder does not allow us to determine if the medicinal product is worth the asking price.
Current state of affairs: advisory report sent to the Minister
The National Health Care Institute has sent this advice to the Minister of VWS. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic health care package.
Ripretinib is intended for adults with cancer in the stomach or intestines
Ripretinib is the active substance. The brand name is (Qinlock®). The product is a tablet that has to be taken once a day.
The medicinal product can be used in people with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). GIST is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the connective tissue of the gastrointestinal system without obvious cause. The symptoms are also often unclear. A large GIST can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. Many patients also experience fatigue, dizziness and an increased risk of bleeding in the stomach or intestines.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of ripretinib
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to not reimburse ripretinib (Qinlock®) from the basic health care package. The marketing authorisation holder did not provide important information, which was indispensable for the National Health Care Institute to determine whether this very expensive medicinal product is worth the asking price. The National Health Care Institute has also explicitly requested this information. The National Health Care Institute again requests the marketing authorisation holder to provide this information.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) and the Insured Package Advisory Committee (ACP) advise the National Health Care Institute when issuing a package advice. The final decision as to whether or not reimbursement from the basic health care package will take place lies with the Minister.