Cancer of solid organs qualifies as a prescribed minimum benefit
(PMB) only if it is “treatable”, and only where:
They affect the organ of origin and have not spread to adjacent organs
There is no evidence of spread to other organs that are far from the organ where the
cancer has started.
They have not brought about incurable damage to the organ in which they originated,
or in another life-supporting organ.
If none of the above apply, there is scientific evidence that more than 10% of people
with a similar cancer, in the same state of advancement, survive on treatment for at
least five years.
If a solid-organ cancer does not meet the above-mentioned criteria, it is considered a
non-treatable cancer and is therefore not viewed as a PMB in terms of the current
legislation.
There are various cancers of non-solid organs and systems that qualify as PMB conditions –
whether they are “treatable” or not. For example, acute leukaemia, lymphomas, multiple
myeloma and chronic leukaemia all qualify for PMBs.