Comment: National Drug Manufacturers on changes at the Ministry of Health

One of the most significant achievements of Izabela Leszczyna's team in terms of building Poland's pharmaceutical sovereignty was the implementation of the first statutory mechanisms to increase the share of domestic drugs in our market, the publication of a list of critical drugs and the introduction of drug safety on the agenda of the priorities of the Polish presidency.

As a result, patients today in pharmacies pay less for drugs produced in Poland, the updated Polish list of critical medicines is a list of substances whose production in the country should be supported, and work on the European Critical Medicines Act has gained momentum.

The compromise on the Pharmaceutical Package worked out under the Polish presidency was a huge success for Izabela Leszczyna's team. Indeed, the shortening of market exclusivity periods for drugs will enable faster access to new therapies for all EU residents.

- We are grateful to Minister Izabela Leszczyna for her openness to dialogue, which has resulted in a good draft amendment to the reimbursement law. We hope that the draft will be quickly processed, because the changes it contains will benefit patients above all, including easier access to biological therapies in outpatient clinics close to the patient's home instead of in hospitals, which are often hundreds of kilometers away," says Krzysztof Kopeć, president of National Drug Manufacturers.

Domestic Drug Manufacturers appreciates the competence and experience of the new Health Minister Yolanta Sobieranska-Grenda, and is confident that her knowledge of health economics and healthcare resource management principles will allow the full potential of the domestic pharmaceutical industry to be realized for the stability of the health system.

- I believe that for the new Health Minister Jolanta Sobieranska - Grenda, the drug safety of Poles will remain a priority. Because without increasing the production of medicines in the country and the manufacture of critical pharmaceutical substances, we will not be able to ensure the safety of Poles during the crisis. Pharmacies will run out of drugs, and hospitals will not treat the sick," points out CEO Krzysztof Kopeć.

- Restructuring hospitals, digitizing health care or new therapies are very important, but if we forget to produce essential medicines, the lack of these cardiovascular or diabetes drugs for millions of patients or antipyretic syrup for children will become a major problem for the ministry, he adds.

The National Drug Manufacturers expect the ministry's new leadership to remain open to dialogue and constructive cooperation.  

Source: KPL