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The procedure for prescribing drugs for hypertension will take effect on November 1, the Ministry of Health (SAM) reported on Friday.
“The Ministry adheres to the approved drug policy guidelines, which provide equal access to effective reimbursable drugs for people with serious illnesses,” Deputy Minister Kristina Garuolienė said in the report.
“We are also in favor of reducing the population’s spending on medicines. We are glad that a lot has been done in this area in recent years; This has also been felt by Lithuanian patients, ”he said.
According to SAM, the new description of the procedure stipulates that for most patients, treatment should begin with a combination of two drugs.
“The provisions of the procedure description are formulated in such a way that the physician can choose to prescribe both separate tablets and fixed combinations of drugs, that is, two substances in one tablet, to a new patient,” the report says.
“The latter option is much more convenient for the patient, as it reduces the number of tablets taken and increases the effectiveness of the treatment,” it reads.
The ministry also states that the procedure recommends that a new patient be administered a drug for first-line treatment at the lowest annual cost in the corresponding group of therapeutic drugs.
“This provision is intended to allow the population to receive innovative treatment, which is often too expensive. The aim is also to prevent the population from overpaying for safe and effective treatment,” says the ministry.
According to her, the provisions of the description of the procedure were actively discussed with representatives of the Lithuanian Society of Cardiologists, the Lithuanian College of Family Physicians, the Lithuanian Union of Family Physicians, as well as specialists from the Insurance Fund. State Health and the State Drug Control Service.
“It is gratifying that the treatment of hypertension, which has been in place since 2002, is being modified and that this important document has been updated in accordance with the latest guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology. The main recommendations for diagnosis, treatment goals and algorithms, specific patient groups, have been prepared according to the latest scientific data, ”said Jelena Čelutkienė, president of the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology.
The procedure was due to take effect on October 1, but following criticism from the medical community and patients, Minister Aurelijus Veryga postponed the entry into force of the procedure.
Representatives of doctors and patients criticized the Ministry for changing the procedure prepared by the group of experts, which, according to them, provided a flawed procedure that when prescribing reimbursable drugs for high blood pressure, the doctor should not choose the drug that is most suitable for a particular person. which is the cheapest specified at that time.
Doctors said they wanted to talk about the medication procedure again.
According to data from the Ministry of Health and doctors, one in four Lithuanians suffers from hypertension, about 730 thousand. people.
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