On June 19, 2024, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) endorsed the “Urgent Joint Statement on the Treatment of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Tests in the Revision of Medical Service Fee in FY2024.”

In addition to our Organization, this Joint Statement is endorsed by the Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA Japan), the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Oncology.

In “Joint Statement on the Implementation of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling test” of December 15, 2023, we requested that “Expand insurance coverage for cancer gene panel testing so that it can be done at the appropriate time from the time of initial treatment.” However, since this request was not approved in the 2024 revision of medical service fees, the organizations concerned have decided to once again jointly prepare this statement in order to provide appropriate medical care to patients. This joint statement will be submitted to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr. Keizo Takemi, and other relevant officials.

Currently, the cancer gene panel tests (cancer comprehensive genomic profiling tests) approved for use under the Japanese health insurance system is only for “solid tumors for which no standard treatment is available, or with local progression or metastasis for which standard treatment has been terminated (including those for whom termination is expected)”.

Under these circumstances, we are concerned that patients will miss the opportunity to select the optimal therapeutic agent. We are also concerned that even if a comprehensive genomic profiling test is performed after the completion of standard treatment and a gene mutation that can be treated with drug therapy is found, the patient will continue to miss the opportunity for treatment due to the deterioration of his/her general condition, resulting in an unfortunate situation where it is too late.

Please note that the joint statement documents are only available in Japanese.