Turkey Regulatory Update: Refugee Policies, Psoriasis Rises
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Hundreds of thousands of unregistered Syrian refugees can’t get access to reimbursed drugs from pharmacies they are eligible for, while new data have shown a sharp rise in psoriasis and patients are seeking alternative therapies. A study shows metabolic surgery can drastically reduce the cost of diabetes drug treatment, and the SGK has added seven drugs to the reimbursement list.
A PharmAsia News update on Turkish biomedical regulatory policies. For previous notes, see (Also see "Turkey Regulatory Update: New Health Loans, Vaccine Compensation" - Scrip, 23 Oct, 2015.):
300,000 Refugees Can’t Get Reimbursed Drugs
The Turkish government has been providing free healthcare services for over two million Syrian refugees who have entered the country, who can go to public hospitals under the same terms as Turkish citizens. Public clinics serving only Syrian refugees have been opened in 13 boroughs of Istanbul.
More recently, the government took two important policy steps with a decree issued by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. Until now, the Social Security Institute of Turkey (SGK) did not reimburse prosthesis and orthotics operations for refugees. However, a new decree states that those Syrians who crossed into Turkey wounded and had an amputation as a result, or have developed the need for orthotics, would be reimbursed by SGK.
The decree has also added Syrian refugees to Medula, the online system that pharmacists use to give reimbursed drugs to patients. It means that refugees will get access to reimbursed drugs all over Turkey, instead of just in some big cities and border towns.
Nevertheless, problems continue for refugees, most importantly their lack of registration for health services. The number is estimated around 300,000 and as a result, pharmacies cannot give them reimbursed drugs, which they have to buy personally, if they have the money.
In addition, delays at the Immigration Department to enter new registrants into the online system are also causing problems, and Pharmacist Unions have demanded a protocol to be signed with the SGK in order for services to be provided for refugees all over Turkey.
Links to related stories (in Turkish):
http://www.teis.org.tr/index.php/2015/10/21/basin-aciklamasi-49/
http://www.teb.org.tr
http://www.haberturk.com/saglik/haber/1146369-devlet-sinirdan-yarali-gecen-gocmenin-protezini-odeyecek
Psoriasis Increasing Sharply
Data recently disclosed data by the Ministry of Health shows that the prevalence of psoriasis, a serious skin disease, is increasing in Turkey. According to the official data, there were 290,000 patients in 2012 but this figure almost doubled in two years to reach 540,000 in 2014. The disorder is most common in the 30-39 age group.
As it is a chronic disease with no drug cure, many patients are turning to non-conventional treatment methods such as spas, acupuncture or herbal ointments. But doctors are strongly objecting to the use of these and are insisting on regular drug treatments.
The reimbursed market for skin drugs was TRY456.3m ($157.3m) last year and the non-reimbursed market was valued at TRY83.3m. Drugs against psoriasis still make up only a small part of the reimbursed market, but it looks like the shape of skin health market will be changing in the coming years.
Link to related story (in Turkish)
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Surgery Drastically Cuts Diabetes Drug Costs
Laparoscopic DSIT (Diverted Sleeve gastrectomy with Ileal Transposition) operations can reduce the medication cost for type 2 diabetes by 90 %, according to a study by investigators from the Metabolic Surgery Clinic in Istanbul.
In the study, which was the first to analyze the effects of DSIT operations on diabetes-related medication costs, data were collected from 206 type 2 diabetes patients operated on at the Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at Taksim German Hospital between October 2011 and April 2013, and then retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent the same DSIT procedure carried out by the same surgical team.
Of the 206 patients, 116 cases with complete one-year postoperative follow up were enrolled in the study. A comparison was made between the annual diabetic medication cost before and after surgery.
The study found that DSIT operations can provide lower diabetic medication costs, with the cost of diabetic medication decreasing from a mean of $660.08/year to $65.12 one year after surgery. The results have shown that DSIT operations can lead to significantly better glycemic control and substantially lower diabetic medication costs.
Seven Drugs Reimbursed
The Social Security Institution of Turkey (SGK) has added seven drugs to the reimbursement list with two notices. Dalizom (midazolam) 50mg/10mL IM/IV five ampoules from Generica Ilac, Etotio (etodolac and thiocolchiceside) 400mg/8mg from Mustafa Nevzat Ilac, Menacef (cefdinir) 300mg 10 capsules from Mustafa Nevzat Ilac were put on the reimbursement list with a notice dated Oct. 28.
Dalizom (midazolam) 5mg/5mL IM/IV five ampoules from Generica Ilac, Epoplus (erythropoietin) 4,000IU/mL SC/IV six flacons from Has Biotech, Parikalsi (paricalcitol) 10mcg/2mL IV Injection 2mL five ampoules from Vem Ilac, and Thermo-Efemat (etofenamate) Cream from Deva Ilac were added to the reimbursement list on Nov. 4.
Link to related story (in Turkish)
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