Following recent publications in the press regarding the inclusion of innovative medicines in the GHS and the comparison of access to innovative medicines in Cyprus compared to other European countries, the Health Insurance Organisation clarifies the following:
The results of the published study mostly refer to the period before the inclusion of specialised medicines in the GHS and therefore this picture is not representative of the General Health System today.
Moreover, in order to draw conclusions from such a study, various factors should be taken into account, such as the interest of the pharmaceutical industry in pricing these products in Cyprus, the submission of an application for inclusion in the GHS, etc.
Both the Agency and the relevant Scientific Committees (which are composed of a large number of physicians and pharmacists) operate under the Pharmaceuticals Advisory Committee (PAC) and work intensively to evaluate and include innovative medicines.
As of September 2020, the PAC has created and reviewed treatment protocols for 35 conditions, evaluating over 150 treatments. These include 100 innovative pharmaceutical products. It should be noted that these products have been approved by the OAS Board of Directors.
It is worth noting that the timing of the inclusion of these products in the GHS largely depends on the response of the pharmaceutical industry to the negotiations.
As is the case in all Health Systems, the criteria taken into account when evaluating drugs include, among others, data from clinical studies, guideline recommendations, pharmacoeconomic studies, health technology assessments, etc.
It is clarified that the Agency follows and applies practices prescribed by the Act and implemented by all Health Systems worldwide. Inclusion of drugs in the GHS Pharmaceutical Products List is done after the process of their evaluation and after their prices have been negotiated.
Finally, the Agency invites the pharmaceutical industry to contribute constructively during the negotiations in order to accelerate the procedures for the inclusion of innovative medicines approved by the Agency for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the GHS.
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