Woman launches Change.org campaign for leukemia treatment

Woman launches Change.org campaign for leukemia treatment

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A woman with third-stage leukemia has started a campaign on Change.orgto try to raise 10,000 signatures to launch an appeal with the Social Security Office to approve medicine for second- and third-stage patients.

As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign by Thicharat Maneesrithanon had garneredover 8,000 signatures.

She called on the Social Security Office to abolish its rule that prohibits doctors from prescribing oral drug for cancer patients beyond the first stage.

Thicharat said that doctors have to use chemotherapy for leukemia patients beyond the first stage. But chemotherapy cannot cure the disease, while the oral drugs can, she said.

Oral drugs cost about Bt1,000 to Bt1,200 per pill, said Thicharat. A leukemia patient would have to pay about Bt200,000 a month for the drug out of their own pocket. That cost is too high for her to afford on her own.

Thicharat had been insuring herself under the social security scheme for almost 12 years, she said, so it is not fair to deprive her of the right to access a drug that could save her life.

She said although the effectiveness of drugs for third-stage leukemia patient is very low, she still wants to fight for her life.

The campaign has been widely shared on Facebook, especially on the “page” for members of the social security fund club.

Many people have commented that people who have not paid into the social security fund, but have received gold-card universal healthcare rights, have better medical treatment than the social security fund members.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30324779

 

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