[size=75:u7r8m363]novinite December 1, 2009
Bulgarian Diabetics Plan to Protest Insulin Price Hike
Bulgarians suffering from diabetes are planning to organize protests if the cost of insulin produced by Novo Nordisk is increased.
The claim has been made by Adrian Stoev, deputy chairman of the Bulgarian Association for Diabetes, in a radio appearance on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Albena Zlatareva, the deputy director of the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) had announced that patients using Novo Nordisk medication would have to pay BGN 5 for it, despite the fact that the NHIF should fully cover the cost.
This, she explained, was because the price charged by Novo Nordisk was in excess of the legal limit set for payment by the NZOK. The company has persistently refused to come to an agreement with the Bulgarian Health Ministry.
The company web site has posted advice to those affected. It recommends that they should consult their doctors to have another type of insulin prescribed for them.
Stoev explained how that kind of replacement of insulin supply would eventually affect them: "
There is a difference in the same type of insulin products by different producers despite the fact that the experts do not outline it. The profile of action of each type of insulin causes certain aberrations which reflect on the patient."
"
There is a rule that a good treatment should not be changed, because it inevitably affects the compensation process of diabetes. There is a great probability that, when changing the treatment, hospitalization may become necessary,"
he added.
When asked how this issue would be resolved, Adrian Stoev replied: "
These are negotiations which are conducted between the [Heath] Ministry and the company, and nobody can say what the outcome will be."
It is estimated that, of the total Bulgarian population of 7,7 M, there are over 520 000 people suffering from diabetes.
[size=75:u7r8m363]novinite December 3, 2009
Bulgaria Health Ministry Vows to Deal with Insulin Price Hike
Bulgaria's Health Ministry announced Thursday they will be looking for solutions in the issue of the insulin price hike for diabetic patients.
The Health Ministry stated they will submit next week a proposal to the Council of Ministers for changes in the way medication prices are established.
Beginning December 1, Bulgarian diabetic patients, using the Novo Nordisk medication, have to pay BGN 5 for it, despite the fact that the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) should fully cover the cost. This became necessary because the new price charged by Novo Nordisk was in excess of the legal limit set for payment by the NZOK. The company has persistently refused to come to an agreement with the Bulgarian Health Ministry.
NZOK further warned that a similar problem could arise for another 240 medications.
The patient organizations threaten mass protests over the issue, but said Thursday they would wait until next week to see what the Health Ministry would do.
The planned measures remain unclear since the Health Ministry declined to offer details. The most likely outcome is that the NZOK legal payment limits would be increased, but one thing is sure – the diabetics would have to pay the BGN 5 all through December.