The field of medicinal policy and cooperation between the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic in the field of health were the main topics of the two-day bilateral meeting of health ministers of the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic Zuzana Dolinková and Vlastimil Válek at Štrbské Pleso. At the end of the meeting, ministers signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Medicinal Policy and Medical Devices.
The bosses of health departments discussed the project of cross-border exchange of e-prescription, support for domestic drug producers, the issue of parallel trade and the impact of national measures on oversupply. –Our countries have a long history of cooperation and friendship, of course, in the health field. Today we are following up on our February meeting in Prague, where we discussed drug policy, digitisation or cooperation of emergency health services, said Minister for Health Zuzana Dolinková.
The Slovak party welcomes the opening of the question of the possible extension of the simultaneous functioning system of cross-border medical care for the cross-border exchange of electronic prescription. –As regards the support of domestic drug producers, historically, from the point of view of manufacturing sites, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were linked and complementary to each other in the drug portfolio, which today most often fall out of the market, added by the Minister. Cooperation could restore this type of production in both countries, thus making medicines more accessible to patients.
Ministers also touched on the issue of parallel trade and the impact of national measures on oversupply. Slovakia is considering taking national measures to create the necessary stocks of medicines. We have a pragmatic approach to the possibility of introducing common principles on national contingency requirements at EU level. At the same time, the Ministry considers that it is a priority for each Member State to ensure the availability of medicines for their patients. Ministers also touched on the subject of the Pharmaceutical package under discussion at European Union level.
A visit to the Czech delegation included a visit to the National Institute of Tuberculosis, Pulmonary Diseases and Chest Surgery in Vyšné Hágoch, which specializes in institutional health care with nationwide scope. These include in particular diagnosis, treatment and dispensation of care for patients with respiratory diseases.
