Dear HCV Patients & Loved Ones:
We want to do our best to reach the affected hepatitis C/HCV population in the most efficient manner. (We require more volunteers, patient outreach coordinators/specialists.)
We understand, that many patients’ and their families and friends have had a difficult time getting approval for Sovaldi, Harvoni, Epclusa or Daklinza through their insurance companies. Essentially, insurance companies tell us we don’t have a fighting chance unless our fibroscan is 3 or greater.
Who wants to wait until their liver is more compromised and diseased to see if they’re eligible for treatment.
We strongly believe that all individuals have a right to life and access to affordable healthcare wherever they reside.
In today’s world, there is no reason that anyone that is relatively mobile can have access to affordable medical care anywhere in the world.
We as a community should not be limited to access due to our residence in a country where hepatitis C/HCV treatment is $95,000 to $190,000. There are options and those options should be carefully weighed and exercised. Its a matter of life and death and should not and will not be based on financial means.
Contemplating the costs and affordability of specialty medicines causes much grief and undue stress on the physiology and psychology of the patient as well as their loved ones. The stress effects everyone in the close knit network of the patient. There is no need to make compromises on your health when there is affordable treatment available.
Our country’s legislators, insurance lobbyists and pharmaceutical lobbyists work tirelessly to make life saving hepatitis C treatments like Epclusa, Sovaldi, Daklinza and Harvoni are out of reach for 90% of the population. Is that fair? Is that just?
The nouveau response to accessing Sovaldi, Harvoni, Epclusa or Daklinza is to get a mortgage like loan to pay for the medication. This idea was concocted from some of the most prestigious universities’ professors in the US. They’re adding insult to injury and pretty much plain disregard to our hepatitis C communities.
Please do not wait for our law makers and the lobbyists to develop a moral compass that will benefit you in obtaining life saving generic hepatitis C treatments. We hope and pray that it will happen, but we’re not holding our breath.
Lucia P
-HCV Activist