Pharmaceutical industry

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.

Gilead Sciences has launched its first domestic products to the local market with support of the Investment Office of the Presidency and in cooperation with Pharmactive.

Turkey has become one of the company's newest production bases in the world for its strategic medicines for Hepatitis and HIV diseases.

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.

However, he clarified that more clinical trials are needed before it can be considered an effective treatment

Breakthrough in drugs against COVID-19 by oral administration, in tablet form. At this stage we have two such molecules - one is molnupiravir, the other ritonavir. This was commented in "The day begins" Prof. Ilko Getov, Bulgarian representative in the European Medicines Agency.

Clinical trials have been conducted that show the drugs have excellent efficacy, he said.

Pfizer UK managing director Ben Osborne said on Tuesday that the pharmaceutical company's Covid-19 drug, Paxlovid, could be available in the UK "very early in 2022".

Meanwhile, Merck's coronavirus pill, Molnupiravir, will be released as part of a UK trial in late November.