This week, the management of the Ministry of Health headed by Minister of Health Kamil Šaško met with representatives of patient organisations on the opening round table on the draft amendment to the Act on the scope and conditions for reimbursement of medicines. The amendment aims to increase the availability of innovative treatments, maintain the most commonly used medicines, enhance the transparency of the whole system and set up a sustainable funding system.
It is essential to me that we have opened a discussion with patient organisations before the legislative process is launched. We all agree that the system, as it is set, is not fully operational. With the amendment of the law, we want to improve the availability of new medicines and ensure that those who are most people use remain at the same time to make the system transparent and sustainable. My goal is to strengthen patient confidence in health care and guarantee fair and predictable rules. Therefore, I appreciate that we are constructively discussing with them the steps that affect them in their own right, stated the Minister for Health Kamil Šaško at the opening meeting. The Minister added that an open dialogue with patients would continue in the next stages of legislative preparation.
In the framework of the planned meetings to the upcoming draft amendment of the drug law, representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR) will welcome as soon as possible the general patient public, doctors, representatives of health insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies.
The Ministry of Health is preparing an amendment on the scope and conditions for reimbursement of medicines, medical devices and dietetic foods on the basis of public health insurance to increase transparency throughout the process. It will define clear rules for the entry of new medicinal products into the reimbursement system and for the reimbursement of the exemptions. At the same time, the amendment aims to increase availability and ensure that the most used medicines remain in Slovakia.
This is a step to strengthen the stability of drug policy and facilitate patients' access to modern and effective treatment. The amendment is currently in the process of drafting the paragraph text, i.e. before the legislative process begins.
At the opening round table, representatives of the Association for the Protection of Patients' Rights, Cancer League and Helping Organizations Platform also discussed the draft amendment of drug legislation with drug policy experts from MZ SR. Members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Marcela Čavojová and Zuzana Matejičková took part in the legislature.