The problems arising from the observed shortage and/or non-availability of certain drugs through GESY, the high cost of supplementation for the beneficiary and the discrepancy in the costing of pharmaceutical preparations and medical consumables between the OAS and the Ministry of Health, was discussed today by a Parliamentary Committee on Health.
In a statement after the Committee meeting, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Efthimios Diplaros, said that the discussion of the issue has not been exhausted, adding that it is a follow-up to the two letters he has sent as Chairman of the Health Committee to the OAI on specific drugs and shortages, as well as for supplementation, and the response they have received from the Health Security Agency.
He noted that fortunately there is the Named Claims Committee, which was established prior to the 2016 YESA and the cost for these innovative drugs of 3 million 3 million, which was the budget in 2016 when the Committee was established, has now risen to €80 million for 2022.
"It is with regret that we note that if it were not for this Nominating Committee in the Ministry of Health under the direction of the Director General of the Ministry, we fear we would lose human lives. We have pointed out in a categorical way to the OAI that it should quickly run all the procedures so that finally all these drugs are included in the GHS protocol, so that patients can get them from the pharmacist at the price they have received, anyway, and other patients at the price set by the GHS," he added.
Diplaros said that they will continue the discussion in the next session, all stakeholders will be heard.
"We have realized where the problem exists and we believe that with the pressure from the Parliamentary Health Committee, the OAS will run the procedures. The pandemic has left us and we believe that some people will now have to run the procedures much faster. It is with regret that almost all Members of Parliament-and this was said in the Health Committee-we are receiving, on a daily basis, complaints from patients who are waiting to get their medicine and it is not there. We believe that through the exhaustive discussion that we will have, we will help resolve this issue," he added.
He also said that they have made it clear that the Health Committee will be against any abuse.
"It cannot and cannot be that certain formulations are received by the Ministry of Health at a much lower price than the OAI. All this is what will be discussed at the next session of the Health Committee," he noted.
AKEL MP Nikos Ketteros said in a statement that one of the important issues discussed today in the Health Committee is the issue of shortages of medicines and consumables.
"Every day we have complaints from patients that they cannot find the medicines prescribed by their doctors, or that there are no consumables in hospitals or other health care facilities. We discussed this issue at length today and stressed in a very firm tone that we will not tolerate this situation to continue and that solutions must be provided," he added.
Some, he continued. Some people, Ketteros continued, are lurking to hit the GHS, some are finding an excuse from such incidents to hit the Health System and solutions should be found as soon as possible, if you want immediately, so that this issue can be addressed.
"We will wait. We have given, to the best of our ability, some proposals for drugs that may have to be provided through the System and we will wait until June 15th for the new list of drugs to be announced by the Health Insurance Agency, so that we will know how to position ourselves or whether we should seek the addition of other drugs to that list."
He continued. Kettiros said that, "our primary concern is the interest of patients and no one else, that is why we will wait to see the list, we will study it and it is planned to come back at the next meeting of the Committee to discuss this issue."
DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis, in a statement said that they have heard that there are hospitals that have no sheets, no blankets.
"Hospitals that are forced by other districts to send the sheets for washing to the Nicosia General Hospital. Pharmaceuticals that are not offered by the GESY and patients need them. Pharmaceuticals whose cost has multiplied with the creation of the GHS. We have heard up to 10 times. Beneficiaries that before the GESY ,patients were entitled to them for free and today they are not."
As DIKO, Savvidis continued, they are calling for more control in terms of the procedures for the importation of these drugs, to control the cost of these drugs, and also to finally increase the supply of innovative drugs, so that people use modern drugs to treat their diseases.
"The biggest problem is faced by low pensioners who are not beneficiaries of these innovative medicines and find it difficult to buy them," he noted.
The MP of DPA - Cooperation, Michalis Yakoumi, said in a statement that unfortunately there are many complaints and grievances from patients.
"It has been reported that before YESY 1,300 medicines were provided and after YESY 2,100. The number of medicines provided may have increased but they are certainly better than pre-GESY era but we cannot turn a deaf ear to the voices of patients. Medicine is advancing, new, sophisticated drugs are coming out and the OAI must keep abreast of developments in medicine and upgrade the GHS. This is the only way to provide Cypriot citizens with a quality healthcare system," he added.
As he said, "something we have asked about is prescription. We have our own concerns as it should be based on the active substance and not on the name of the medicine."
"On this issue we will listen to all views and of course we will support what is best for patients."
"On this issue we will listen to all views and of course we will support what is best for patients. The issue is not exhausted today. We will continue the discussion in the next session. As DPA-Cooperation we believe that any problems need to be solved immediately and we will try to contribute constructively in this direction."
Source: CNA
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