Cancer patients were once again left without the necessary therapy, for the treatment of ovarian and liver cancer.
In "Montefarm", however, they claim that these two drugs are an exception and that the shortage occurred because the manufacturers are late with the delivery due to problems in the production chain. This institution, in charge of supplying hospitals and state pharmacies with drugs, confirmed that the drugs "linparza", for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and "nexavar", a therapy used by patients with liver cancer, were missing.
Several patients have confirmed to "Vijesta" in the past few days that since the beginning of October, despite the promises of the authorities, they have been without prescribed therapy.
The patient Mirjana she said that on July 21 of this year, she was approved for four boxes of the drug "Linparza", manufactured by "Astra Zeneka", for a duration of two months. She explained that she was supposed to receive the fourth box on October 5, but she has not received therapy since then.
"The medicines 'nexavar', film tablets and 'linparza', capsules were not available at the supplier. In the meantime, Nexavar has been delivered and will be distributed today to pharmacies that dispense drugs from this group. We also expect Linparza capsules in the next few days, which will be notified to our pharmacies, where citizens who need this medicine fulfill prescribed prescriptions", said Montefarma.
From this institution, they pointed out that all the missing cytostatics were procured through the last tender, both for the needs of hospitals and pharmacies.
"Deliveries are made to all institutions of the public health sector every day, exceptions may be medicines such as those mentioned above where the supplier or manufacturer is late with the distribution due to problems in the production chain. Once again, we use the opportunity to inform the public that, after funds have been secured through budget rebalancing, by the end of this week, Montefarm will start public procurement procedures in order to enable the smooth supply of medicines and medical devices to all public health institutions and pharmacies operating in to our composition", the answer states.
Yesterday, the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG) did not answer which medicines were missing from the Institute of Oncology, and whether they addressed the competent Ministry, the Health Insurance Fund and "Montefarm" in this regard.
The biggest shortage of cytostatic drugs was recorded three to four weeks ago, when many patients were sent home due to the lack of several drugs prescribed as mandatory therapy.
Last month, the institute lacked "zoladex", "pertuzumab", "trastuzumab", as well as "docetaxel" against breast cancer, as well as "zometa", for patients with bone metastases...
"Montefarm" previously announced that on September 26, a negotiation procedure was announced for the urgent procurement of oncological, specific and other missing drugs, for which slightly more than ten million euros were provided.
They said that the opening of bids is scheduled for October 3, where the deadline for submission of mandatory documentation is eight days from the date of submission of the final bid.
"After carrying out the procedures, we will proceed with the withdrawal of the necessary quantities in accordance with the legal deadline and start their distribution on the same day, depending on the dynamics of the arrival of offers and the course of the procedure itself".
"Montefarm" then said that the procurement was delayed by more than a month because the portal of Montenegrin electronic public procurement (CEJN) was not functional due to hacker attacks.
Bonus video:
