The health ministry says that it is legal to import generic hepatitis drugs into Taiwan for personal use. The ministry is looking into including the drugs in the national health insurance program.
About 550,000 people in Taiwan suffer from chronic hepatitis C infections. The liver infection can develop into hardness in the liver or liver cancer if not treated properly.
Effective drugs cost between NT$1-2 million (roughly US$30,000- 60,000) per treatment. These drugs are not covered under national health care, making them unaffordable for most patients. Generic hepatitis drugs are produced in India and Bangladesh and cost 5% as the name brand drugs with the same ingredient.
The health ministry says that it has tried to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of hepatitis drugs down to NT$300,000 (US$9000) per treatment. That price point would allow the ministry to cover treatment for 13,500 patients every year.