Yanzhong Huang’s blog, Off-Label Use of Drugs and Access to Medicines for All: A Thailand Example, reflects on the role of off-label drugs for improving affordable access to innovative medicines and facilitating progress towards UHC, highlighting the Thai experience of bevacizumab.

“up to 68 percent of out of pocket health costs in resource-limited countries is for medication… inclusion of off-label drugs in the UHC benefit package, as shown in the use of bevacizumab in Thailand, serves as an example of how to offer high-cost NCD treatment in a safe and effective way”

The blog also emphasises the importance of evidence-based decision making and use of HTA in considerations about access to medicines.

“No matter what measures are adopted, the decision-making should be an evidence-based process participated in by multiple stakeholders and supported by health technology assessment (HTA), which takes into account human rights, cost-effectiveness, safety, and intellectual property rights“