The assessment that in the next ten days there will be a gradual normalization of the market for antipyretics, medicines, antibiotics, syrups, respiratory and occlusive drugs, which in recent days have practically disappeared from pharmacy shelves, was expressed yesterday by Health Minister Thanos Pleuris, EOF President Dimitris Filippou and IFET President Giannis Sotiriou. As they mentioned, this optimism is due to the fact that the Greek pharmaceutical companies have committed to increase the production of generics that can replace antipyretics, antibiotics and children’s syrups, IFET has already begun searching foreign markets for emergency imports of drugs – mainly respiratory occlusive drugs – to replace which is impossible, and from next week, an improvement in the supply of the market with pharmaceutical companies, whose warehouses were closed for the Christmas holidays, is expected. It is also expected that demand for these drugs from other EU countries, where the outbreak of the virus started earlier and has already started to decline, will gradually decrease, making it easier to supply them. Greek market.

“Suffering is temporary. There will be no permanent shortages,” Mr. Plyuris noted, emphasizing that “there is no reason to worry, especially for parents, to stock up on medicines.”

The Minister reiterated that the problem of the shortage of these drugs is global in nature and is associated with a reduction in the production of active substances produced in China and India and a shortage of raw materials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis. And at this moment, especially this year, the demand is very high due to the outbreak of viruses internationally.

He also noted that in Greece this year there was even a 40% increase in sales of these drugs, adding that the country has a strong domestic pharmaceutical industry and covers most of the demand with generics produced here. “Our country is facing the problem to a much lesser extent than other EU countries such as France and Germany,” he stressed.

“Suffering is temporary. There will be no permanent deficit,” Minister of Health T. Plyuris stressed.

During an emergency briefing, Messrs Pluris, Philippou and Sotiriou clarified the set of measures taken at last Monday’s meeting to address the general shortage of medicines. As they mentioned:

“In addition to continuing to check pharmaceutical warehouses for possible stockpiling of medicines that are banned from parallel export, nine large multinational companies are also being checked to make sure they supply the market uninterruptedly.

– In addition, there will be ongoing information from the EOF of citizens about branded medicines in short supply and which medicines with the appropriate active ingredient can restore them – an appropriate list will be posted – while doctors will also be informed in the same direction so that they can prescribe and to recommend medicines with relevant active substances that are available in sufficient quantities on the Greek market.

– Prescription drugs that are in short supply will only be dispensed electronically in order to better control the market.

The Minister of Health also touched upon the upcoming increase in prices for cheap medicines. According to him, we will talk about medicines with a current cost of 1, 2 or 3 euros, which are at risk of being withdrawn from the market and replaced by more expensive ones. A typical example is a drug priced at 1.4 euros, in case of withdrawal, the alternative would be a medicine priced at 67.46 euros. The minister argued that the increase does not apply to generic drugs and will be absorbed by EOPYY.

“Efodos” for express test for PAGNI doctors

On New Year’s Eve, three anesthesiologists at the Heraklion University Hospital received a home test to confirm their COVID-19 disease, following the order of the hospital authorities. The incident is condemned by the Medical Association of Heraklion and the Panhellenic Medical Association, who demand the intervention of the Ministry of Health to hold accountable and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

In particular, the Heraklion Medical Association received a report from the Director of the PAGNI Clinic of Anesthesiology and Deputy Professor of the Department of Anesthesiology Alexandra Papaioannou, according to which on Wednesday, December 28, three hospital anesthesiologists, including herself, became infected with the coronavirus, to which the hospital doctor and health visitor for the purpose of conducting a rapid test to confirm whether they are indeed suffering from COVID-19. According to the complaint, the test was carried out at the direction of the hospital administrator, despite the fact that all three anesthesiologists followed the legal procedure for contracting COVID-19 and posted a positive test result on the ministry’s platform.

The Heraklion Medical Association unanimously condemns this particular act, which, as emphasized, “damages the individual, legitimate interests, as well as the medical dignity of colleagues.” In the same vein, the Panhellenic Medical Association, in a statement, speaks of arbitrary and abusive behavior towards medical personnel and points out that “no one has the right to insult a medical body that has generally and since the beginning of the pandemic served public health and society with memorable self-sacrifice” .