on 16. 10. 2014 at 11 00 p.m. at MZ SR

For MZ SR:

For Slovak Crohn club (SCC):

This meeting took place at the initiative of patients suffering from Crohn's disease regarding the high premium paid by the insured person for Pentasa with the effectiveness of the list of categorised medicines from 1.10.2014.

The meeting was opened by the Director General of the Department of Pharmacy and Drug Policy MUDr. Adam Hlôška, who welcomed the Chairman of the SCC and explained the subject and circumstances of the meeting.

Viola Števurková,

  1. She thanked me for accepting.
  2. She explained the situation that she had experienced since 1.10.2014 among patients whose treatment for Crohn's disease is set for PENTASA.
  3. She pointed out that most patients with Crohn's disease are treated with PENTASA on the advice of their treating physician.
  4. Since the patient alone is unable to assess the appropriateness and relevance of treatment with PENTASA or another medicine with the same active substance, he respects the recommendation of his treating physician.

Dr Adam Hlôška

  1. He pointed out that MZ SR acted in accordance with current substantive legislation. Medicinal products with the same active substance mesalazine and comparable therapeutic effect were included in one reimbursement group U 73, the maximum amount of which was reviewed on 1.10.2014 according to the relevant provisions of the Act.
  2. He stressed that the classification of medicinal products, medical devices and dietetic foods should be carried out in such a way that the means managed by health insurance companies would be sufficient to cover public health insurance.
  3. In the categorisation process, one of the key criteria is the cost-effectiveness of treatment with the medicinal product.
  4. He pointed to a high price of PENTASA, which is more than 30% higher than that of a therapeutically comparable medicinal product with the same active substance.

Conclusion:
With the effect of the list of qualifying medicinal products on 1.1.2015, the supplement of the insured person for PENTASA will be comparable to the period up to 1.10.2014, and at the same time new medicines with the same active substance mesalazine prolonged release, which are therapeutically comparable to PENTASA and have a 1/3 lower supplement of the insured person, will be included in the list of categorised medicinal products on 1.1.2015.

Mgr. Jana Kernats, PhD.
Verified: Viola Števurková
Approval: MUDr. Adam Hlôška, v.r.