The problem of the lack of cytostatics for oncology patients still persists, and the drugs, which cost several hundreds of marks, often have to be purchased outside the borders of our country.
The Department of Health Insurance and Reinsurance (ZZOiR) of FBiH is responsible for the procurement of cytostatics in FBiH, and as they say, the reason for the shortage of several cytostatics is the temporary or permanent interruption of the circulation of drugs in BiH market due to production reorganization.
Regarding patient complaints about the lack of cytostatics in Sarajevo, Clinical Centre Sarajevo told Klix.ba that the responsibility lies with the FBiH Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute. This health institution has repeatedly advertised about this problem and said that the lack of cytostatics is evident and lasts for a relatively long time. However, health institutions have no way to solve this problem.
On this occasion, we also contacted the Institute, from which they told Klix.ba that they regularly procure and deliver 171 medicines to health institutions, and that there is currently a shortage of only a few cytostatics.
“The reason is the temporary or permanent interruption of the circulation of drugs on the BiH market by the manufacturer due to commercial reasons or reorganization of production. In most cases, there are alternative solutions, with the fact that in the event that there is no alternative, that is, a substitute drug, the Institute allows patients the right to a refund of the purchased of the medicine, with the attached medical documentation and confirmation from clinical pharmacies that the health institution at that time did not have the medicine that is in the Decision on the List of Medicines of the Solidarity Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is financed by the funds of the Solidarity Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Institute said.
As for the shortage of several cytostatics, they tell that, calcium folinates were temporarily suspended in production for the BiH market, and according to information from the manufacturer, the drug will be delivered to health institutions at the latest today.
“The drug irinotecan is in the procurement process and the conclusion of the contract with the supplier should be completed soon, after which the drug will also be delivered to health institutions. For the drug, fluorouracil 250mg solution for injection, it is listed on the website of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of BiH by manufacturer that there was a permanent interruption of traffic on the BiH market due to commercial reasons,” the Institute told Klix.ba.
In addition, they add, the prescribing of cytostatics by health institutions is inconsistent, so certain drugs are prescribed in smaller quantities, which causes damage to suppliers who write off large quantities of drugs due to expired expiration dates, which reduces the interest in purchasing certain drugs from suppliers.
The association of persons suffering from and treated for breast cancer “Renesansa” presented devastating data. Namely, due to the lack of cytostatic drugs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 209 women with metastatic breast cancer are on waiting lists.
