Medication

Some of the medicines missing in the pharmacy network in Bulgaria - antibiotics and antiviral preparations - are arriving. New supplies are expected at the beginning of next week, said Arkadi Sharkov, a health economist from EKIP and an advisor to the Ministry of Health.

The president of the EOF, Dimitris Filippou, "foresees" the normalization of the drug market in the next ten days, as he stated on ERT channel on Monday.

Generic medication with the same therapeutic value is fully available for children, Health Minister Thanos Plevris said on Wednesday, seeking to reassure parents about shortages, particularly of inhalers and syrups.

The shortage in basic and widely used medicines that is being seen in the country's pharmacies in recent weeks, just as we are experiencing a spike in Covid, influenza and other such contagious diseases, is causing an enormous amount of insecurity among the public.

The problem of the lack of medicines in the Greek market has reached explosive proportions, resulting in an acute social problem and insecurity prevailing among thousands of patients.

In an effort to address a shortage in certain medicines, the Health Ministry announced a series of measures on Monday that include an increase in the prices of very low-cost drugs so that they are promoted in the Greek market and not in the international market where their prices are much higher.

The Greek agency for pharmaceuticals (EOF), wholesalers, pharmacies and others met on Monday with Health Minister Thanos Plevris to review the issue of lack of drug availability in the Greek market.

While all cited global issues in medicine shortages, they also said the issue was not as severe as in other countries since Greece has its own production of pharmaceuticals as well.

Drug shortages bring despair to pharmacists and patients every day, with over 400 essential medicines missing from the market, leaving patients unable to meet pressing needs. The missing drugs concern chronic conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, mental illnesses, while some categories of drugs that are in short supply are anticoagulants, painkillers, antibiotics, etc.

A peculiar trend has come to light among Russian tourists holidaying in Türkiye of purchasing medicines such as painkillers and antidepressants and taking them to their country upon their return as its comparatively cheaper.

The prices of medicines in Bulgaria have increased by about 10%. This is reported by pharmacists. According to Nikolai Kostov, chairman of the Association of Owners of Pharmacies, medicines and medical goods have become more expensive.