ASTANA – The Ministry of Healthcare will introduce a new model in January to regulate the price and circulation of medicines and medical devices, said Lyudmila Byurabekova, chairperson of the ministry’s Pharmacy Committee, at a Dec. 6 press conference.
Lyudmila Byurabekova. Photo credit: Central Communication Service.
“More than 2,780 message cards about the side effects of medicines were registered and 898 inspections of pharmaceutical companies were conducted for compliance with the requirements of pharmaceutical activity over 11 months of 2018,” she noted.
The committee takes measures to improve expert and regulatory functions in medicine circulation, according to the state-to-the-nation address.
“The pharmacy committee conducted large-scale work to identify overpricing of medicines. The new model for price regulation will protect the interests of consumers,” she added.
Antibiotics, antiretroviral medicines and medicines for cancer treatment are more prone to have side effects and self-medication is an issue. There is a need to go to the hospital or pharmacy. When treatment is not under control, the result can be antibiotic resistance.
“Antibiotic resistance is a global problem. We want to increase the responsibility of those who prescribe medications and those who release medicines subject to prescription without an over-the-counter prescription. We will introduce the e-medical prescription by 2020. We will know what doctor prescribed the medicines and which pharmacy released the medicines,” said Byurabekova.
The pharmacological supervision organisation is constantly working with medical personnel, analysing and processing obtained data. Medical safety is the complex work of manufacturers and distributors, regulatory and expert bodies, doctors and patients. The major problem results from those involved in medical circulation not fully appreciating the importance of monitoring adverse reactions, which is key to patient safety.
In cases of acute respiratory diseases, pharyngitis and other viral infections, children under age five can receive a prescription for free medication.
