in-cyprus 15 September 2023 - by Annie Charalambous
The House Health Committee is reviewing amendments to the registration of medicines bill so as to allow the possible parallel importation of a licensed pharmaceutical by more than one company.
This is what Philenews reported on Friday, adding that this will allow expensive and innovative treatments which although licensed on the island to reach Cypriot patients.
At the moment, legislation does not allow parallel imports of medicines from companies other than the marketing authorisation holders in cases where a pharmaceutical formulation also has a price for sale on the Cypriot market.
As a result, in cases of medicinal products which are registered by an importer who has never imported them into Cyprus and has not applied for the determination of the selling price, there is no possibility for parallel importation by other companies.
Committee members heard that 6000 medicines are licensed today but only 2500 are in circulation.
Concerns were raised on whether these formulations should be automatically included in the General Health Scheme (Gesy).
Or whether a problem will arise in cases where there are formulations that are imported from two companies and then a problem will arise in the procedures of the Gesy.
Assurances were given by the island’s Pharmaceutical Services that the preparations which will be covered by this provision are mostly ones manufacturers or marketing authorisation holders have never imported in Cyprus.
