Recently, the problem of access to medication experienced by heart, blood pressure and diabetics patients has increased even more. In some medicines, patients have to pay out of their own pocket more than the amount covered by the SGK (Social Security). Pharmacists, stating they are on the verge of bankruptcy, are preparing for action.
There has been a general crisis in the health sector in recent months. After the doctors and health workers who went on strike because their rights could not be adequately improved, now the pharmacists are preparing for action.
The main reason that pushes pharmacists who are preparing for gradual action, including the closure of pharmacies, is the drug price decree, which has not been changed for 13 years.
Stating that it has reached the point where it cannot make even routine payments such as rent, electricity, natural gas, personnel expenses, pharmacists say that they have entered a debt spiral; they have become unable to pay even the most basic operating expenses and are on the verge of bankruptcy.
To be even worse on the other hand, the problem that this decree creates on the part of patients is the further growth of the absence of medicines. The absence of medicines, which has increased to 25 percent since the beginning of the year and then decreased to 10 percent with the exchange rate hikes, has escalated again.
IT HAS BECOME ROUTINE: 1 OUT OF 5 DRUGS NOT AVAILABLE
Head of Ankara Chamber of Pharmacists has said that the availability problem in medicines is again based on 20 percent, that is, almost one out of every 5 drugs has become unavailable and it has become an incremental routine.
