Deal to make Roche anticancer drugs available in China
Insurance deal will ensure more people in China will be able to afford costly cancer medications
The world’s biggest maker of cancer medicines, Roche, is to collaborate with Swiss Re, the world’s second largest reinsurer, to sell policies to more than 10 million Chinese clients, giving them access to Roche’s chemotherapy products.
With enrolment expected to jump by 20% in 2013, the tie-up will ensure that more people in China will be able to afford the costly cancer medications. While Roche is to provide health data needed to set up the policies, Swiss Re is to conduct the statistical heavy lifting and then re-insure local insurers who sell the policies. To date, more than 6 million people have enrolled, and the goal is to have 12 million by the end of the year.
Roche and Swiss Re are reportedly working with five Chinese insurers and are in talks with the nation’s biggest insurer, China Life Insurance.