Filenews 18 December 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
As of today, the data in the field of medicines and specifically in the field of specialized and innovative therapies are changing. As of today, thousands of patients with serious chronic and rare diseases will begin to be served by the Health Insurance Organization, which informed all doctors and hospital pharmacies yesterday about the procedures they must follow.
Specifically, the HIO informed yesterday that December 17 (i.e. yesterday) was the last day on which nominal requests for securing specialized medicines were submitted to the Nominal Requests Committee of the Ministry of Health and announced that as of today all requests must be submitted to the Committee for the Examination of Named Requests for Medicines established at the HIO.
Requests for each patient will be submitted electronically through the GHS IT system, "while requests will be accepted by specialist doctors contracted with the GHS".
Regarding urgent cases, the HIO informed that until December 30, 2024, requests must be submitted to the Ministry of Health since the procedure through the Emergency Examination Committee established at the Organization will begin on January 1, 2025.
This development puts an end to the operation of the Committee of Nominal Requests of the Ministry of Health, as we knew it until today, since in essence a decision that was taken almost a year ago and provided for the transfer of specialized treatments to the General Health System is being implemented.
Through the HIO, patients will be able to obtain treatments that have not been included in the GHS Catalogue of Medicinal Products (some treatments have already been included and doctors and patients have been informed accordingly), medicines whose indications are not covered by the GHS (some medicines are administered for more than one condition/indication and their inclusion process for all indications in the GHS has not been completed) and medicines that do not comply with existing protocols.
All treatments have been registered in the GHS software and doctors will be able to use the special forms which are also available online.
"For requests concerning an emergency and the life of the beneficiary is directly threatened or there is an imminent risk of serious disability, the request must be sent simultaneously and via e-mail to a special e-mail address so that there is an immediate response from the HIO.
With the transfer of these treatments to the HIO, the EDA of the Ministry of Health will remain operational only for the examination of nominal requests concerning non-GHS beneficiaries, unlicensed or non-priced medicines.
