Skopje, 21 July 2023 (MIA) - The Union of Associations of Persons with Diabetes held a protested on Friday in front of the Ministry of Health, demanding basic rights for therapies and medical aids for diabetics, as well as fulfillment of the promise from today's meeting with Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti.

Although at Friday's meeting they reached an agreement on the purchase of diabetic tape patches, at the protest they made more demands necessary for them, including change in the model for obtaining diabetic tape patches and devices, change to the laws on public procurement and not depending on deadlines and individuals.

President of the Union of Associations of Persons with Diabetes, Dimche Velev, said people with dibetes are interested in the health care law, so that there will be no procedures in the future.

"The Ministry is taking an approach to change the models, not to avoid public procurement, but to eliminate it. We have the right to choose and the country should give us, like all other countries do, especially in the EU, the right to choose to get what we need ourselves, I'm talking about medical aids. We will get the therapy again through the doctors, through the state, as before without delay," Velev added. 

He pointed out that a model must be made to amend the public procurement laws for all chronic diseases, including diabetes, and that they cannot depend on deadlines, cannot depend and must not depend on individuals.

He noted that as of Monday there will be unlimited anti-diabetic therapy and there will be no more reduced issuing of anti-diabetic therapy.

However, regarding the glucometers and tape patches, he appealed to the Ministry not to wait 60 days after signing, as it is according to the law, but said the best is seven days, i.e. distribute tape patches and devices for TYPE 1 diabetes next week, while for TYPE 2 it may be later.

As a last demand, he mentioned reinstating regular education for nurses and doctors, which every diabetic is entitled to.

"Our ultimate goal is precisely the continuous provision of modern insulin and other antidiabetic therapy and tablets, medical aids for measuring blood sugar to all patients, and at any time we will be more vocal as well as partners, but we have no other option but to constantly remind that we are here and that we can also cooperate," Velev added.

Photo: MIA