It is with massive excitement that the South African Cystic Fibrosis Association and its affiliated doctors can announce that a deal has been reached through a patient-support NGO to start supplying Trikafta® in full recommended doses to eligible patients with CF in SA who are on top-end medical aids (e.g. Discovery Health Comprehensive Plans) at no additional cost to patients!
Patients who are on other medical aids besides Discovery Health or who can afford any co-payments that their medical aid won’t cover may also apply to the program but we don’t know yet if other medical aids will cover the cost in full. Trikafta® is still not registered in SA, so SAHPRA Section 21 approval every 6 months is still required. It will be imported and distributed by a local company which will make it available through your pharmacy once all the approvals and paperwork have been obtained and submitted. We advise all patients to contact their doctor/CF clinics to inquire about the program for more information. Patients already on the generic version from Argentina in full or reduced doses, who qualify for the program, must discuss and plan with their doctors on how to switch to Trikafta. Patients starting Trikafta® for the first time will also need to follow the same steps.
We would like to thank the tireless efforts of so many campaigning for life-saving CF medication and remain committed to the campaign for affordable access to treatment for ALL eligible South African CF patients until no patient is left behind.
What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis, (CF) is an inherited genetic disease that affects a number of organs in the body, primarily the lungs and pancreas by clogging them with thick and sticky mucus. Repeated infections and blockages can cause irreversible lung damage and death. Mucus blocks the tiny ducts of the pancreas which supply enzymes required for digestion, and consequently food is not properly digested and nutritional value is lost in the process.
The sweat glands are also affected and the body may lose an excessive amount of salt during exercise or hot weather.
In early childhood, prominent symptoms include growth problems or frequent infections, especially of the lungs. As the disease progresses, frequent lung infections (pneumonia) often lead to problems breathing, lung damage, prolonged courses of antibiotics, and respiratory failure requiring support by a ventilator. CF can also lead to frequent sinus infections, diabetes mellitus, difficulty with digestion and infertility.
The most consistent aspect of therapy in cystic fibrosis is limiting and treating the lung damage caused by thick mucus and infection with the goal of maintaining quality of life. Intravenous, inhaled and oral antibiotics are used to treat chronic and acute infection.
There is no cure for CF and most individuals with cystic fibrosis die young: many in their 20s and 30s from lung failure. However, with the continuous introduction of many new treatments, the life expectancy of a person with CF is increasing to ages as high as 40 or 50 in some CF individuals.
