Suttirat Rattanachot, director general of the Comptroller General’s Department, said on Tuesday the department had issued new regulations to help patients access new medicines, which are high-priced.

The allowance coverage for state officials and members of their families will be extended to cover nine kinds of medicine in six categories.

The coverage is also expanded to cover 17 types of cancers, up from seven, and the different stages of illness.

Eligible patients will be able to claim reimbursement for more medical expenses on cancer therapy.