site.btaPhysicians Demand More Information about Drug Movements

Out of 3,380 registered pharmacies in Bulgaria, 2,938 have handled electronic regular prescriptions for diabetes drugs and antibiotics since they became compulsory on October 16. What about the remaining 442 pharmacies, have they been dispensing such drugs or not? Have they unlawfully accepted paper prescriptions without registering the purchases in the national health insurance system? The questions were raised by Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) President Ivan Madzharov at a news conference on Thursday, as quoted in a BMA press release.

According to Madzharov, there is no information about 28,264 prescriptions - whether the medicines named on them, or any replacement medicines, have been sold.

Before paper prescriptions for diabetes drugs and antibiotics were banned on October 16, paper and electronic prescriptions had been used as equal alternatives for two years. Only 1,000 out of the 44,000 electronic prescriptions issued during that period were made up, Madzharov said.

He argued that the Health Ministry and the Bulgarian Drug Agency should have looked into the matter. Their analysis would have helped resolve some of the problems. "The trial period was not overseen by the competent authority, mistakes were not accounted for, and an attempt at forcible imposition was made," the expert said.

According to Madzharov, control is only exercised at the point of issuing the prescriptions. He cited a nationwide survey commissioned by the BMA and conducted by the Trend Research Centre a year ago, which showed that 44% of respondents had bought antibiotics without a prescription, and 55% knew of a friend or relative who had done so. "An overwhelming majority of citizens said back then that both versions, electronic and paper, should be in use," the BMA chief commented, noting that this is the case in a number of other EU member states. "The only country where paper prescriptions are banned is Estonia. All other countries have both," he said. Electronic prescriptions are issued for 100% of medicines in Denmark and 70% in Norway, but paper is not banned there either.

The BMA calls for parallel use of paper and electronic prescriptions over a certain period of time and establishment of a digital register of all medical products available in Bulgaria. "If we are not heard, we will use our right as European citizens to seek redress in court," Madzharov warned.