A very good decision, I applaud it with both hands. This was said to bTV by the head of the NHIF, Dr. Petko Stefanovski, in response to a question about free antibiotics and antiviral drugs for children up to 7 years of age.
Dr. Stefanovski said that the deadline for the NHIF to implement this idea is June 1. Stefanovski added that this is the first thing he will do after his election as the head of the NHIF.
We have a very short deadline until June 1, and there are many steps that need to be taken to reach the final decision. This entire process will involve the National Council for Prices and Reimbursement, the Executive Agency for Medicines, the Ministry of Health, experts from the Medical Union, experts from the health insurance fund, who will create the algorithms - which medicines will be paid for, which will not be paid for, explained Dr. Stefanovski. According to him, free antibiotics and antiviral drugs must be included in the positive drug list in order for them to be paid for by the health insurance fund.
Stefanovski stated that every decision made for the health insurance fund is in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Regarding the control of spending on medical institutions, Stefanovski indicated that negotiations will be launched with the medical, dental and pharmaceutical unions, with whom they will find a working mechanism for controlling the funds allocated by the health insurance fund.