Cyprus ranks 22nd among 36 European countries in providing access to innovative medicines, according to the 2020-2023 W.A.I.T. Indicator study released by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).
The Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA) reports that Cypriot patients wait an average of 531 days between European approval and local availability of new medicines, exceeding the European average of 518 days. In some cases, waiting times have reached 1,300 days.
Only 36% of innovative medicines approved by European authorities (63 of 173) are available in Cyprus, compared to the European average of 46%. Germany leads with access to 156 medicines and the shortest waiting time of 128 days, while Portugal has the longest delays at 840 days.
Cancer treatments and orphan drugs for rare diseases are available to Cypriot patients only through restricted access, primarily through the Committee for Named Patient Applications (EOA). None of these treatments has been fully integrated into the reimbursement system.
KEFEA highlights that access problems persist six years after the introduction of the General Health System (GHS). The transfer of the EOA to the Health Insurance Organisation has caused further delays in treatment approvals and pending evaluations.
“We are particularly concerned about the serious possibility of a gap in the availability of new, innovative treatments in our country if the situation does not improve immediately,” KEFEA stated.
The association calls on both the Health Insurance Organisation and the Ministry of Health to take immediate action to address the backlog of medicines awaiting evaluation and enable timely assessment of new applications.
Read more:
