International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Is It Time for a Thai Cancer Drug Fund? From Global Evidence to Collaborative Action – A Response to Recent Commentary

Articles in Press

Document Type : Correspondence

Authors
Parnnaphat Luksameesate 1
Osot Nerapusee 2
Chanthawat Patikorn 1
Puree Anantachoti 1
1 Social and Administrative Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2 School of Pharmacy, Eastern Asia University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
Keywords
Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF)
Alternative Healthcare Financing
Access to Medicines
Thailand

We would like to thank Dr. Jong Hyuk Lee for his insightful commentary on our study, “Scoping Review of International Experience of a Dedicated Fund to Support Patient Access to Cancer Drugs: Policy Implications for Thailand.”1 His highlights on balancing innovation, affordability, and equity provide an invaluable extension to our policy recommendations and open up crucial pathways for structural refinement.2 ...(Read more...)

1.     Luksameesate P, Nerapusee O, Patikorn C, Anantachoti P. Scoping review of international experience of a dedicated fund to support patient access to cancer drugs: policy implications for Thailand. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2024;13:7768. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7768
2.     Lee JH. Establishing a dedicated fund to improve patient access to cancer medicines: key considerations and policy implications for Thailand: Comment on “Scoping review of international experience of a dedicated fund to support patient access to cancer drugs: policy implications for Thailand.” Int J Health Policy Manag. 2025;14:9153. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.9153
3.     Sakulbumrungsil R, Kessomboon N, Kanchanapibool I, et al. The impact of drug financing system under Thailand universal health coverage (UHC) on the performances of drug system. Journal of Health Science of Thailand. 2020;29:S59-S71.
4.     Patikorn C, Taychakhoonavudh S, Thathong T, Anantachoti P. Patient access to anti-cancer medicines under public health insurance schemes in Thailand: A mixed methods study. Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2019;43(3):168-178.
5.     Taychakhoonavudh S, Phoolcharoen W, Pesirikan N, et al. The landscape of biologics drug system in Thailand. Journal of Health Science of Thailand. 2020;29:S96-S111.
6.     Kaso AW, Regesu AH, Haftu HK, et al. Magnitude of catastrophic health expenditure and its determinants among cancer patients in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025;25(1):1533. doi:10.1186/s12913-025-13723-4
7.     Ungtrakul T, Siripaibun J, Anantachoti P, et al. Exploring alternative funding mechanisms to improve patient access to innovative medicines. BMC Health Services Research. 2026;26(1):644. doi:10.1186/s12913-026-14438-w
8.     Chulalongkorn University, Chulabhorn Royal Academy. Feasibility of Implementing Cancer Drugs Fund in Thailand.  https://online.pubhtml5.com/vyjq/hvdv/.  Accessed June 15, 2026. Published 2025.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 22 July 2026

  • Received Date 07 July 2026
  • Revised Date 12 July 2026
  • Accepted Date 17 July 2026
  • First Published Date 22 July 2026
  • Published Date 22 July 2026