Khaberni - Rana Obeidat, General Director of the Food and Drug Corporation, stated that the patient support program or what is known as (Patient Access Program) is one of the global health initiatives aimed at enabling patients to access modern, high-cost drug treatments through provision at subsidized prices or via free doses provided directly by pharmaceutical companies, along with various mechanisms adopted by these companies in coordination with the institution.
Obeidat added in a statement for the institution on Wednesday that the program is part of efforts to improve the quality of healthcare in the kingdom and to alleviate the financial burden on patients who might find it difficult to access such treatments ordinarily, stressing that the program aligns with the directions of the economic modernization vision to enhance access to health services and improve their efficiency.
She noted that Jordan officially started implementing the program in 2020, according to instructions published on the official website of the institution, pointing out that it is currently applied to new drugs that have no alternatives, biological drugs, cancer medications, as well as drugs costing more than 150 Jordanian Dinars.
Obeidat confirmed that since its launch, the program has enabled patients to access these drugs from warehouses at reduced prices, which has heightened equity in accessing advanced treatments.
Obeidat explained that the program operates according to mechanisms adopted by the institution and reviewed regularly to ensure optimal implementation and maximize the benefit for patients, thereby enhancing the sustainability of these programs for longer periods.
She also affirmed that the positive results of the program over the past years have proven its effectiveness in improving patient access to necessary medications at fair prices, mentioning that health authorities in the kingdom are working on developing it beginning in 2026, by automating its procedures and expanding the beneficiary category to include a wider range of chronic treatments, thus ensuring a larger number of Jordanian patients benefit.
She pointed out that the patient support program represents a pivotal step in the institution's efforts to elevate the healthcare system and enhance the partnership between the public and private sectors, emphasizing that the program embodies the healthcare system’s commitment to prioritizing the patient and achieving a balance between providing advanced medications and maintaining the sustainability of pharmacies and health institutions in the kingdom.
