The Order of Pharmacists in Albania, in cooperation with the Chamber of Pharmacists of Kosovo, has opened the 8th Pharmaceutical Conference titled “Together for Pharmaceuticals.”
Key topics discussed included the need for concrete reforms to address recurring issues in the pharmaceutical sector, as well as calls to establish European standards and improve patient access to medicines.
Dorian Sadiku, President of the Pharmaceutical Business Union, stated that the current situation in the sector is creating uncertainty and disorder for both patients and the pharmaceutical market. He called for institutional intervention to establish clearer and more stable rules.
“We have always talked about timelines, yet we don’t know when the reimbursement list is indexed or published. We are faced with last-minute surprises that create chaos for patients, the market, and lead to losses for pharmacies and pharmaceutical businesses. After Kosovo, which has no reimbursement list at all, Albania risks becoming the only European country operating the same way now as it did twenty years ago. A change was made to the Council of Ministers decision after 12 years, and the Ministry of Health should be commended for that, but it is certainly not enough.
I propose that a technical working group be established as soon as possible, bringing together the Order of Pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Business Union, the Ministry of Health, the Health Insurance Fund, and other relevant institutions. Either we build a real partnership today to implement European standards, or we will remain an isolated island in the middle of Europe,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Evis Sala stated that a new Council of Ministers decision on medicine pricing has been approved, which she said will bring a more stable system in the interest of patients.
“Open dialogue with the pharmaceutical industry, professionals in the field, and all system stakeholders remains essential for building effective and long-term policies. The new decision on medicine pricing has been approved. The goal is clear: to establish a more rational methodology better aligned with market dynamics and the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies,” Sala said.
The 8th Pharmaceutical Conference, “Together for Pharmaceuticals,” will last three days, bringing together professionals, academics, and key figures from the sector across the country and the region to discuss scientific innovations and the challenges of modern medicine.
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