Several associations of pharmacists draw attention to the delays registered with the payments of the health insurance houses for medicines issued in compensated and free regime. Through this warning, the associations want to emphasize the critical situation in which the pharmacies are.
The associations warn about the critical situation in which the pharmacies/photo are: Shutterstock
“The Association of Pharmacies and Pharmacists of Romania (AFFR), the Association of Pharmaceutical Districtors and Retailers (ADRFR), the Association of Independent Ethics (AFI), the Association of Traditional Pharmacies and Practitioners (AFTAP) and the College of Pharmacists of Romania (CFR) draw a alarm signal to the financial situation in the criticism of at 90 days at payments Health insurance houses for issued drugs in compensated and free regime. Drug distributors also face similar delays in payments from hospitals”, It is shown in a statement of the associations.
They believe that exceeding the terms of payment obligations of the health insurance houses to pharmacies cause delays in paying the debts throughout the pharmaceutical chain – pharmacy, distribution, production, writes news.ro.
“In addition, pharmacies pay VAT to the state every time the compensated drugs are released to the patient, without having any predictability on the terms to which the outstanding amounts will receive.
All these payment delays have a strong negative impact on the financial stability of pharmacies and drug distributors, the most affected being, first of all, patients whose access to life -saving treatments may be compromised.
The situation is even more critical for patients in the case of pharmacies serving communities from rural or isolated areas, where access to treatment depends almost exclusively on these pharmaceutical units ”the source said.
The lack of predictability directly affects the safety of patient access to treatments
Pharmacists’ associations say that any delay in the release of free and compensated medication for patients with chronic diseases may have consequences on the state of health.
“The lack of predictability in the payment of the amounts due generates a dangerous imbalance throughout the commercial chain, putting pressure on the available stocks and directly affecting the safety of patients to the treatments they need.
Free and compensated drugs are essential for patients with chronic diseases or low incomes, and any delay in their release can have serious consequences on the state of health of the population and on its confidence in the public health system”, The representatives of the pharmacists also transmitted.
They ask the governors to look for quick solutions to solve this situation.
“We understand the difficult situation faced by the country’s economy during this period, but pharmacies are among the companies that pay, correctly and in time, the taxes to the Romanian state.
ADRFR, AFFR, AFIE, AFTAP and the College of Pharmacists in Romania believe that it is time for the state institutions to transparently identify fast, viable and sustainable solutions, which guarantee the stability of the pharmaceutical system and the safety of patients.
We are open to the dialogue and the collaboration with the institutions empowered in the health system, in order to identify quick solutions for repayment of payments and to strengthen a predictable operating framework for all pharmacies in Romania.
Uninterrupted access to treatment is not a privilege, it is a necessity. We trust that the state institutions – CNAS, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance – will act accordingly, to overcome this crisis, for the benefit of patients and professionals in the field ”the associations of pharmacists also stated.
