Filenews 5 May 2023 - by Marilena Panayi
Patient accessibility to innovative medicines in Cyprus is very low. Of the 168 innovative formulations approved by the competent authorities of the European Union between 2018 and 2021, only 49 are available in Cyprus, i.e. 29%, while the average between Member States and States belonging to the European Economic Area is 45% (75 formulations).
In terms of all innovative treatments, Cyprus ranks 26th out of 37 countries, while according to a survey by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, the majority of medicines administered to Cypriot patients are available under certain conditions, mainly through the Nominal Requests Committee of the Ministry of Health. Full access is given to only 8% of innovative medicines marketed in Cyprus, while for 92% special procedures are provided depending on the case.
At European level, Germany holds the lead in almost all sectors, where 147 out of 168 innovative medicines are available, with 99% being fully accessible within the national health system.
In Cyprus, of the 46 innovative oncology drugs approved in the EU until 5 January 2023, 22 were available with the EU average standing at 23.
As far as combination therapies are concerned, out of the 22 approved, according to data reaching up to January 2023, only 1 was available in Cyprus and was accessible only under certain conditions to patients.
For "orphan" preparations, a total of 61 were approved. In Cyprus, 2023 were available in January 14, with all of them being accessible to patients only under certain conditions. The EU average for this category of innovative medicines is 24.
For "orphan" non-oncology drugs, according to the relevant tables, a total of 44 were approved. In January 2023, 10 were available in Cyprus and patients had access only under certain conditions. The EU average for this category was 17 formulations.
According to the results of the survey, the average number of days it takes for a new formulation to enter the European market is 517 days. For Cyprus, it takes an average of 432 days from the day the preparation receives approval from the competent EU authorities.
A summary of the results of the survey was published by the Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA), which in a relevant announcement states that it has repeatedly highlighted "the problems of access and availability of innovative medicines and treatments in our country, while proposing feasible and immediate solutions that facilitate patients' access to all medicines". "We are already in the fifth year of implementation of the GHS and we remain convinced that the full and immediate implementation of the legislation, as well as of all the provisions agreed in previous years with the competent authorities, is the only way in the effort for patients to have unhindered access to innovative medicines and treatments."
