Advice - reimburse relugolix (Orgovyx®) for the treatment of prostate cancer
The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister for Medical Care to reimburse relugolix (Orgovyx®) from the basic healthcare package. This medicinal product can be used in certain patients with prostate cancer. If the Minister adopts our advice, relugolix will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this medicinal product be reimbursed from the health insurer's basic healthcare package.
Relugolix is intended for certain people with prostate cancer
Relugolix is the active substance; the brand name is Orgovyx®. The medicine is a tablet that you take with a glass of water: 3 tablets at once on the first day of treatment, then 1 tablet once daily at approximately the same time each day.
The medicine can be used in adults with advanced prostate cancer that is still treatable with hormone therapy. Relugolix blocks the production of the male sex hormone testosterone in the testes. Testosterone can promote the growth of prostate cancer. Relugolix reduces the amount of testosterone in the body and slows down the growth of the prostate cancer cells.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on reimbursement of relugolix
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister for Medical Care to reimburse relugolix (Orgovyx®) through the basic healthcare package. The recommendation is to include the medicinal product in List 1A of the GVS, in a newly-formed cluster together with nasal buserelin (Suprefact®).
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural medicinal products (GVS)’.
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, personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please visit our information page on excess and personal contribution. Or ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) advises 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.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Relugolix is an outpatient medicinal product. Outpatient means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with a prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.
This report is a summary of recommendations by the National Health Care Institute. The original text is in Dutch.