Norway’s largest private hospital, Aleris Health, has decided to offer the controversial and very expensive cancer drug ipilimumab against melanoma.
According to TV2’s report, patients who have been refused at the public hospitals will have to pay on their own.
The newly developed drug is used in all European countries, including Sweden and Denmark but Norwegian health authorities had previously refused to buy the medicine for public hospitals due to its high price.
The price for four injections is estimated at approximately 850,000 NOK, but the Norwegian health authorities are negotiating with the manufacturer to bring down the price.
Doctors talking to TV2 fear that making this treatment available only to those who can afford to buy it leads to a class distinction in the Norwegian health care system.