If the 130 innovative medicines for the benefit of patients are not included in the NHS, in the way that the Health Insurance Organization wants, an instruction will be given by the Ministry of Health that they must be included and let them find a way, the Minister of Health warned on Tuesday. Michalis Hatzipantela, who made it clear that enough time was given to the Organization to introduce these drugs and there are no more excuses.
In his statements, after his visit to the Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Intervention Center ” Unique Smiles”, the Minister of Health said that the OAU was given a window of time until January 31, to add that they will also be given this order in writing today to include these 130 medicines by January 31.
“Let them work day,” he said, “let them work night, let them work Saturday and Sunday to get these 130 new drugs into the system. If these 130 drugs are not included in the way the OAU wants, an instruction will be given by the Ministry of Health that they must be included and let them find a way”.
He spoke of “unacceptable things”, noting that “it's time for my friends at OAU, whom I love and support so much, to include these 130 drugs on January 31st”.
He recalled that they have wanted innovative drugs to be included for some time, adding that he personally visited the Medicines Advisory Committee and the OAU and asked them to include innovative drugs so that patients would benefit.
According to Michalis Hatzipandelas “patients cannot be second class citizens and not have access to these innovative medicines”.
He also referred to “absurd things” he heard at yesterday's meeting, saying that “it is not possible for doctors who approve the same drugs on the nominal drug committee to approve those drugs immediately, and when the same doctors are on the Drug Advisory Committee on another organization to take them months”.
He also noted that “in the instructions that will be given to the OAH is that every time a new drug is included in the health system, the Ministry of Health and the OSAK will be informed and we will also inform the world so that the world knows”, to add that “this instruction will also be in the letter that will be sent to the OAU today”.
For his visit to the Multi-Thematic Assessment and Intervention Center “Unique Smiles “, the Minister of Health said that he had the pleasure and the opportunity to tour the premises, where excellent care is provided to children who have rare diseases.
Asked if there are any problems, for which he could b the Ministry of Health to assist the Organization, Mr. Hatzipantela said that “some recommendations have been given by the President of the Foundation, Stalos Kyriakidou, and we will study them at the Ministry of Health, in order to help this organization”.
