The Cyprus Patient Association (OSAK) appeals to the public as well as to doctors, for the responsible administration and reception of injectables for diabetes, noting that the stocks that Cyprus currently has are at limited levels and people with diabetes are at risk to be left without the necessary treatments for their health and life.
In its announcement, OSAK states that the introduction of the new injectable GLP-1RA drugs (trade names Ozempic, Victoza, etc.) has revolutionized the way diabetes mellitus is treated, especially in people with uncontrolled diabetes, with diabetes and obesity , as well as with an increased risk for cardiovascular problems.
However, the widespread use of these drugs by non-diabetic people, mainly for weight loss and aesthetic reasons, has led to an unprecedented prescription, resulting in serious shortages worldwide.
This fact, it is reported, which has brought health systems and pharmaceutical companies, face to face with serious issues of increased demand and reduced sufficiency of these drugs, entails the risk that people who really need them, will not be able to obtain them.
It is noted that this phenomenon is also observed in our country, where the diabetics who need them the most, cannot obtain them, as their administration to people who do not have a medical indication has increased dramatically.
OSAK, as well as its Scientific Advisory Committee, appeal to doctors and citizens to allow the availability of these drugs to people who have a medical indication based on the summary of product characteristics, until the global problem of adequacy is solved.
As reported, the Health Insurance Organization for several weeks has officially informed about the problem that is being observed, informing at the same time that during the last call for tenders for the supply of these preparations and their administration through the NHS, none of the four companies importing the drugs into the Cyprus did not express interest and reduced stocks in the warehouses of pharmaceutical manufacturers were cited.
The OAU, notes OSAK, decided to proceed with special procedures to resolve the problem, which, however, are still ongoing.
OSAK also invites the pharmaceutical companies, with a good mood/intention and responsibility towards their patients/customers, to negotiate the inclusion of their preparations in the NHS.
Source: KYPE
