World MS Day: HIFRNM is fully committed to ensuring timely therapy
Under the motto MS-Connestions-MS-Connection, World Multiple Sclerosis Day was marked with the aim of supporting and encouraging persons living with MS, organised by the National MS Association.
“The number of newly diagnosed patients with MS is constantly increasing, as 80-120 new patients are diagnosed every year,” said Ana Karajanova Dimitrusheva, president of the association, who emphasised that at present 50 patients are on the waiting list to receive highly effective therapy.
M.Sc. Kristina Hristova, Director of the Pharmacy Sector at the HIFRNM, who spoke on behalf of the Director of the Fund, M.Sc. Magdalena Filipovska-Grashkoska, stated that as a responsible institution, the Fund continuously ensures that health institutions provide timely therapy for patients with MS, through increases in budgets as well as by allocating additional earmarked funds for therapy.
“The contractual fee, i.e. the budget of the PHI University Clinic for Neurology, is continuously increasing. Namely, in 2017 it amounted to 196.900.000 denars, in 2021 it increased to 344.354.297 denars, and for this 2022 year it amounts to 345.479.968 denars. In addition, through a conditional budget, the Fund also provides additional funds for new, modern and more effective therapy for patients with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis, which prevents disease progression and significantly reduces disability and mortality. Thus, in 2021, 110.256.417 denars were allocated, while for 2022, 113.912.351 denars are planned for MS medicines,” emphasised M.Sc. Hristova.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr Vladimir Rendevski stated that everything would be done to make modern therapy available to patients.
“But the most important thing of all is early and timely diagnostics,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr Rendevski.
The treatment of patients with Multiple Sclerosis is a successful story, stated Assoc. Prof. Dr Ivan Barbov, Director of the University Clinic for Neurology. He emphasised that out of around 1000 patients, 650 receive regular therapy, unlike many countries in the region that do not have such coverage with medicines for this disease.
He appealed for the positive list of medicines to be changed, so that they would not have to wait for medicines from the budget. The event was attended and supported by the First Lady, the wife of the President of the RNM, Prof. Dr Elizabeta Gjorgievska, who wished them success in the fight during the treatment of patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
