site.btaHealth Minister Says There Is No Shortage of Drugs for Coronavirus Patients

ESD 15:00:01 11-11-2020
LN1510ES.112
112 POLITICS-HEALTH-MINISTER-PHARMACISTS-MEETING

Health Ministe Says There Is No Shortage of Drugs
for Coronavirus Patients, Warns against Self-Treatment of COVID and
Antibiotics Overuse


Sofia, November 11 (BTA) - Health Minister Kostadin Angelov Wednesday said there is no shortage of drugs for coronavirus patients. "There is no shortage of drugs used in the treatment of the coronavirus infection," the Minister told journalists on after a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, drug distribution companies and the Bulgarian Drug Agency. All of them warned of the risks of self-treatment and overuse of antibiotics.

The Minister said that following alarming signals from across the country about shortages of medicines and low-molecular weight heparin for pregnant women, suppliers will deliver additional quantities of heparin to pharmacies. By the end of Wednesday the Drug Agency will publish on its webpage a list of pharmacies which will sell the low molecular weight heparin.

Minister Angelov said there is enough azythromycin.

He said that patients who need treatment with antibiotics, heparin and dexamethasone are those who are hospitalized and hospitals have enough stocks.

The Minister warned that self-treatment and overuse of antibiotics can be dangerous in response to therapies for the treatment of coronavirus which appeared on social media.

Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union President Prof. Asena Serbezova said that antibiotics are used excessively and this is the reason why they are not available at pharmacies.

She called on doctors to prescribe generic drugs as currently there are 12 drugs which contain azythromycin. NV/PP