Prof. Hristo Hinkov, Minister of Health, issued an order restricting the export of insulin drugs. The order goes into force today, November 2, and will last until December 31, 2023.
Other blood sugar-lowering medications, as well as antibiotics intended for systemic administration to children, are also restricted for export, in addition to insulins and analogs.
The Ministry of Health sought a report from "Information Service" JSC on the prescribed and dispensed medicinal items with an electronic prescription due to frequent allegations of a scarcity of medications in the pharmacy network.
The data is quite concerning, revealing a considerable lag in the quantity of pharmaceutical drugs delivered against those recommended. Some of them have 0%, 24%, and 42% implementation. The average percentage of compliance with electronic prescriptions is 59%.
The main goal of this order is to meet the needs of Bulgarian patients and to overcome a deficit or shortage of critical pharmaceutical supplies. The duration of the ban, as well as the specific medicinal products, are determined in strict accordance with the principle of proportionality, in order to protect the population's health and in accordance with the prohibition of arbitrary discrimination or covered restriction of trade between European Union member states.
Furthermore, in response to the numerous requests regarding e-prescription, we notify you that Minister Hinkov will convene a joint meeting of the Bulgarian Medical Union, the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, and other interested groups. The meeting's goal will be to look for strategies to overcome the discrepancies between the parties participating in the process and to reach a consensus in favor of the patient via constructive discourse. /BGNES
