2nd Edition of the Thailand Lung Cancer Policy Forum

On Wednesday, July 9th, ASPIRE concluded the 2nd Thailand Lung Cancer Policy Forum in Bangkok, where medical professionals, policy makers, and civil society leaders reconvened to tackle the next frontier in lung cancer care – sustainable and equitable access to diagnostics and treatment.

Building on our first forum’s focus on early detection and screening, this roundtable addressed gaps in biomarker testing, targeted therapies, and health system financing, key to equitable, high-quality lung cancer care.

Despite the promise of precision medicine, access remains uneven due to limited public funding, lack of reimbursement, and high out-of-pocket costs.

➡️ Next step: Engage professional bodies to formally request inclusion of biomarker testing in the national benefits package.

Discussions highlighted concerns around treatment equity, with disparities in access to targeted therapies such as EGFR and ALK inhibitors.

➡️ Next step: Collaborate with industry partners and relevant authorities to explore sustainable pricing and reimbursement models for broader patient access.

Several suggestions were made around innovative financing models to support timely access to high-cost therapies, with examples including a Cancer Drug Fund and Managed Entry Agreements.

➡️ Next step: Table a proposal with relevant health authorities and explore multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms to support implementation.

Experts emphasised that evidence-based advocacy is key.

➡️ Next step: Conduct cost-effectiveness studies and strengthen proposals for priority interventions, such as LDCT screening, biomarker testing, and targeted therapies, to support reimbursement and integration into national programmes.

Lastly, all stakeholders agreed that policy change needs a united front, with coordinated efforts from academia, healthcare industry, payers, providers, and patient advocates.

➡️ Next step: Convene a follow-up meeting with NHSO, NCI, and partners to advance implementation.

We extend our sincere thanks to our co-conveners – Asia Pacific Coalition against Lung Cancer, Assoc. Prof. Thanyanan Reungwetwattana, and Assoc. Prof. Naiyarat Prasongsook – and to our presenters, Dr. Danai Manorom and Assoc. Prof. Puree Anantachoti, for their leadership and contributions.

We also thank our participants for shaping the forum’s outcomes: Dr. Wiwatana Tanomkiat, Dr. Passakorn Wanchaijiraboon, Asst. Prof. Punnarerk Thongcharoen, Assoc. Prof. Sarayut L. Geater, Dr. Prakaitip Susilparat, Dr. Suchada Chaivooth, Ms. Kamonwan Sirilup, Ms. Soontharee Temvisutkul, Ms. Chittawan Poonsiri, Ms. Chotika Suwanpanich, Ms. Pinmanee Chamnarnkit, Mr. Chayut Meekham, Dr. Chayanan Sitthibuth, and Dr. Fonthip Watcharaporn, MD, MPH.

Whilst this concludes our Thailand Lung Cancer Policy Forum series, the work continues. The insights gathered will lay the foundation for future efforts to promote equitable access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment for lung cancer across Thailand.