Still waiting for change in drug program entry criteria

There have recently been favorable changes to the inflammatory bowel disease drug program. This involves the removal of time limits. It seems to be very good already, but it could probably be better. What else are patients and doctors waiting for?

Iga Rawicka, president of the EuropaColon Poland Foundation:

• Patients are waiting for a change in the program's inclusion criteria.
• These criteria have always been very difficult to meet (patients had to be very sick to get into the program).
• The easier it is to enter the program, the faster treatment will begin and the more effective it will be.
• The range of drugs for patients with inflammatory bowel disease has expanded and is really quite large now.
• Early treatment of IBD also reduces the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• Coordinated care is also important - patients should be guided by the hand from the beginning to the end of treatment.