PARLIAMENT SPEAKER RECEIVES DELEGATES OF "SUFFICIENCY" PROGRAM

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On April 20, Parliament Speaker of Mongolia M.Enkhbold received Director, Access Operation & Emerging Markets Southeast Asia at Gilead Sciences Inc. Ben Kamarck and LF Asia LLC’s Vice President Peter Yeung, Senior Vice Presidents Samson Tsoi and Danny Ching. Gilead Sciences Inc. is implementing “Sufficiency” program which is providing “Harvoni” hepatitis C virus drug at affordable price and free of charge treatments for the 45-60 years old people infected with hepatitis C in Arkhangai aimag by the initiatives of MP Yo.Baatarbileg. Speaker M.Enkhbold expressed his gratitude for help preventing liver diseases for thousands of Mongolians, providing medical support and medicine donation for the hepatitis sufferers. The Speaker said “During my term as the Prime Minister, the Government of Mongolia approved “Healthy Mongolian People” program and started its implementation in 2006. And your program is contributing to the Government policies. I highly expect the program to expand further from Arkhangai aimag to a nationwide program”. Mr. Ben Kamarck said “We have implemented this program in many countries around the world. But none have achieved such high results as Mongolia. We have a high appreciation towards the Government of Mongolia for fully supporting our deed. The program was halfway through in only 5-6 months and it was all thanks to the sincerity, commitment and high-skilled team of Mongolia’s side. I am certain that the Arkhangai’s practice will be a foundation for nationwide program”. During the meeting, Speaker M.Enkhbold and Minister of Health A.Tsogtsetseg have made a request to Ben Kamarck on implementing nationwide free of charge treatment program and help Mongolia to become a hepatitis-free country. As a response, Mr. Ben Kamarck said “Free aids and supports may have some negative effects. The Government must show corresponding efforts such as resolving funding issues and using leverage for instance, health insurance for cooperation. We admire Mongolia’s commitment in preventing liver diseases and eliminating hepatitis”. Within the framework of “Sufficiency” program, chronic hepatitis B treating medicine “Viread” was registered in the Mongolian drug registry and issued in September 2014 while “Sovaldi”, a hepatitis C virus treatment drug was registered in January, 2015 and “Harvoni” in May, 2015. The three-month course medicine which costs USD 94 thousand per course of treatment have been sold at USD 400 per month’s use (USD 1.2 thousand for full treatment) since June 2015. In the framework of the contract between Gilead Sciences and the Minister of Health A.Tsogtsetseg, the price was lowered down to USD 300 in September, 2016. Presently, over 6 thousand people are receiving the treatment, showing 99 percent treatment results. And MNT 2.3 billion worth medicines have been donated for the treatment of thousand patients in Arkhangai aimag. B.Tugsbilig