Skopje, 16 February 2023 (MIA) — The state has secured enough of the Trikafta cystic fibrosis medication for the most critical patients with the disorder and this quantity will arrive as soon as the manufacturer makes it because the prescription drug is made to order, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Thursday.

PM Kovachevski expects support from Members of Parliament for the immediate adoption of the amendments to the law, which, he said, would make it possible to directly negotiate procuring patented drugs produced by only one manufacturer.

“Yesterday the government announced that finances had been set aside for cystic fibrosis patients. The supplier has secured quantities for the most critical of them from the only manufacturer of the drug. These will arrive according to the production dynamics, because the drugs are not in stock but are made to order for an exact number of patients,” Kovachevski told reporters after attending the opening of a new preschool.

“What was negotiated was therapy for a number of patients immediately,” he continued, explaining that in the meantime experts were drafting changes to the laws following the example of other countries where the government could directly negotiate a drug that was patented and produced by only one manufacturer.

“There is no such legal possibility here now as there is in some surrounding countries,” Kovachevski pointed out. 

“I believe all MPs will support this in Parliament and we will have an urgent procedure to change that part of the law so we no longer have any problems in the procurement of this type of medications.”

He said Cystic Fibrosis Association representatives were being consulted regarding therapy protocols.

“It is not just about having the therapy, but protocols must be implemented in terms of the quantity and place where the therapy will be received,” the prime minister said. mr/