Skopje, 16 February 2023 (MIA) – The government said Thursday that the working group is expected to define amendments to the law on Friday, which would make possible for the state to directly negotiate procuring drugs produced by manufacturer of Trikafta cystic fibrosis medication for the patients with the disorder.

The process is nearing its final stage after today's working meeting in the government which was attended by the expert advisors of the Prime Minister, representatives of the Health Insurance Fund, of the Children’s Clinic, of the Ministry of Health, of the pharmaceutical industry as well as of the Cystic Fibrosis Association, the members gave their opinion and contribution regarding the proposed changes to the necessary amendments to the law that regulate and enable systematic planning for cystic fibrosis patients, the government said in a press release.

At the meeting, together with the members of the Cystic Fibrosis Association, the three-year program for cystic fibrosis patients was discussed, which will ensure budgetary predictability and appropriate procurement planning, which will ensure treatment for patients in the future.

The discussion on the amendments to the law takes place in parallel with the procurement of the drug for the most critically ill patients with cystic fibrosis, for which purpose the Health Fund approved over EUR 2.2 million last week, the press release read.

In cooperation with all relevant institutions, all the procedures were completed in the shortest possible time, which enables the immediate procurement of the Trikafta medication, and the delivery of the medication for these patients is expected to be carried out by the supplier, no longer than 30 days according to the work procedures of the manufacturer and supplier, reads the press release.