Cancer diagnosis has always been feared by Hong Kong people. In addition to the high mortality rate, targeted drugs for late stage treatment are also extremely expensive. The person in charge of a Hong Kong funded private hospital in Shenzhen revealed that pharmaceutical companies will set different drug prices for different regions. In addition, through centralized procurement in mainland China, drug costs are significantly lower than in Hong Kong. Taking more expensive cancer diagnostic target drugs as an example, Hong Kong drugs have an average drug cost 5 times higher than similar drugs in mainland China, and the highest can even reach 10 times. Some cancer patients in Hong Kong also cross the border to seek medical treatment in Hong Kong funded private hospitals in Shenzhen as a result.

 

Jia Lin, Deputy Director of the Oncology Department at Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital, stated that the average price of cancer diagnostic target drugs in Hong Kong is five times that of similar drugs in mainland China. At the same time, Shenzhen hospitals can also use innovative drugs from mainland China to provide cancer patients with an additional treatment option.  

 

Jia revealed that a person who developed symptoms in 2018, tested positive for hormones, and HER2 Low expression breast cancer patients in Hong Kong sought medical treatment at the hospital and received standard treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. However, they relapsed again and spent over one million yuan to purchase targeted drugs in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, their condition is still not fully under control. The patient later sought treatment at their hospital. Due to the patient's sensitivity to drug prices, Jia suggested to the patient to use a new type of drug from mainland China. The second phase clinical data of this drug showed an effective rate of 35.8%, which was half higher than the 20% originally used by the patient, and the cost was only a quarter of the original drug. Therefore, the patient also chose to use this drug. At present, the patient has used 6 cycles and the condition is relatively stable. They return to the mainland about once every two weeks. After receiving the infusion in the morning, they can continue to play and have meals with their family at noon.

 

Original website: Price difference of targeted drug fees for cancer diagnosis in Hong Kong and Shenzhen calculated in multiples| on.cc Dongwang | China, Hong Kong, Taiwanhttps://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20250612/bkn-20250612034011055-0612_00822_001.html#google_vignette