WASHINGTON — A new drug holds the potential to cure hepatitis C in tens
of thousands of veterans but will require billions in new spending to
cover the cost, Department of Veterans Affairs officials told a Senate
panel Wednesday.
The department has requested $1.3 billion from Congress to buy Sovaldi,
a drug approved last year for the treatment of the potentially deadly
liver disease. But the money will only buy treatment for about 30,000
infected vets while as many as 114,000 might need it, said David Ross,
director of the VA’s HIV, hepatitis C, and public health pathogens
programs.
Labels: access to treatment, Sovaldi pricing, VA, Veterans