Bahadır Eren, President of Sivas Chamber of Pharmacists, said that the domestic pharmaceutical industry should be supported in order to eliminate the dependence on foreign pharmaceuticals.
Making a written statement about the recent shortage of medicines, Bahadır Eren, President of Sivas Chamber of Pharmacists, stated that the Euro exchange rate average, which started to be applied in 2004 and made once a year, is no longer valid today. “A new drug price decree should be issued as soon as possible and drug prices should be determined within the framework of current conditions,” Eren said.
“Access to medicines is getting harder every day”
Eren said that access to medicines is getting more difficult and added, “Access to medicines is getting more and more difficult in our city as it is in Turkey in general. Due to the problem arising from the drug price decree, we have serious problems in obtaining medicines, especially in districts that are vital for patients such as medicines used by cancer patients, medicines used in the treatment of chronic diseases, insulin medicines used by diabetics and which are not similar to mudall. With the 25 percent exchange rate update in December last year, the euro rate for medicines was set at 17.50 liras. This, unfortunately, is seriously challenging the pharmaceutical industry in an inflationary environment where expenses have increased significantly. The fact that the pharmaceutical industry has serious problems in the production of medicines and especially in the supply of medicines brought from abroad directly affects pharmacies and our patients.”
“A new drug price decree should be issued as soon as possible”
Stating that a new drug price decree should be issued, Eren said, “Since about July, we have been experiencing problems in the supply of vital medicines, especially those used in chronic diseases. In order to avoid problems for our patients, we are trying to obtain the drugs we do not have from the groups we have created among pharmacists or by phone, and we are trying not to victimize our patients, but this is no longer a solution. Regarding the lack of medicines, the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical warehouses and the Turkish Pharmacists Association are carrying out the necessary work in Ankara. We are also making the necessary negotiations with our local politicians and relevant bureaucrats. Starting in 2004, the average Euro exchange rate, which was applied once a year, is no longer valid today. A new drug price decree should be issued as soon as possible and drug prices should be determined within the framework of current conditions. Medicine is a strategic product. We saw this most recently during the pandemic. In addition, the domestic pharmaceutical industry should be supported and foreign dependence on pharmaceuticals should be reduced, even if only partially. We pharmacists show all kinds of sacrifices on behalf of our patients' uninterrupted access to medication and we are in constant communication with our colleagues in order to minimize the drug problem in our province and we are trying to provide uninterrupted pharmaceutical pharmacy service.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241021AW312775