"Hepatitis medicine is in short supply", QSUT has no medicine/ 21 million lek on the market

2026-02-12 21:22:00, Denoncim CNA

"Hepatitis medicine is in short supply", QSUT has no medicine/ 21

Ziflo Gjonca denounces on the show "Stop" the lack of antiviral drugs for Hepatitis C, specifically the drug "Epclusa", which is on the list of reimbursable drugs.

He says his mother suffers from this disease and is facing serious difficulties in securing treatment. According to him, the inability to find the medicine with reimbursement is worsening her health condition, while purchasing it privately is financially unaffordable.

"My mother is sick with Hepatitis C, we caught it in early November 2025. She was hospitalized for a week and then they took her out to do some more examinations. We came to Tirana twice to the Consultation Center and the tests came out very bad. We went back to the Consultation Center and the doctor told me that the condition is serious and she needs to start the antiviral urgently. I asked where I could find it and he told me that it costs, the state provides it, but there is no way. He told me that you can only find it privately. I asked a friend of mine in Italy and he told me that it costs 28 thousand euros to 80 thousand euros. We don't have the means. They didn't give me a date, they just told me that it's late, you don't know. It's urgent because if you don't take it, your mother will develop liver cancer and die. Your mother is now paralyzed, she can't stand, she is yellow and has no appetite. If there is medicine for her to take, it hurts my soul that my mother is "I'm dying for a medicine. Even if I go out of my way to buy 28 thousand euros, I can't buy it," said the complainant.

"Stop" inquired at the University Hospital Center, where a doctor confirmed the lack of the drug, stating that pharmaceutical companies are currently not supplying the market. According to her, at the moment none of the companies have introduced this medication.

Citizen – It's about Epclusa!

Doctor – Well, yes, there is! There is not!

Citizen – There is none?

Doctor – No! I've talked to the companies, there aren't any. At the moment, neither one nor the other has introduced any medicine.

Citizen – We saw something like this in the market and it was very expensive.

Doctor – How much was it on the market?

Citizen – 25 thousand euros until he turns 80.

Doctor – No, brother, it's 3 million. It can be found for 3 million.

Citizen – Where?

Doctor – It's a company!

Citizen – Read this! It's from Saranda hospital. You have it.

Doctor – Not at the moment. I've talked to the companies, they haven't introduced it yet, neither one nor the other.

Citizen – When can they come? Or do you have no idea?

Doctor – I don't know, I can't tell you anything. I don't know. What they say, since the end of February. Today I send an e-mail to the Fund, telling them that I don't have any, from both companies, none have been brought to the pharmacy with reimbursement.

In private pharmacies, a full treatment with 3 boxes of Epclusa costs around 21 million old lek. Pharmacists explain that due to its high cost, this medication is usually obtained through the reimbursement scheme.

Citizen – The antiviral “Epclusa”! Look at it, how much does it cost, do you have it or not?

Pharmacy – Usually, for antivirals of this type, my boss deals. Now I spoke with the doctor, who works here, and he told me, that since you only want the price, that means you are interested in "epclusa", which is on the list of reimbursed drugs and you can find it in...

Citizen – They don't have mine, they don't have it at the hospital. That's why I'm coming, I'm asking here.

Pharmacy – For 3 boxes, the total value is this!

Citizen – 2 million, or 21 million?

Pharmacy – 21!

Citizen – 21 million?

Pharmacy – For 3 boxes, for the full treatment with “epclusa”. No, no, we are not the only ones who have it. We supply this. Do you understand me? You can probably find it in other places too. It is not the idea there, but because of the high price, which it has, they only accept it reimbursed.

Citizen – 21 million and 134?

Pharmacy – Yes!

Citizen – Pooh, pooh, pooh!

Pharmacy – Take a picture here!

Citizen – Is this the original? No…!

Pharmacy – This is the original, not the derivative. The derivative is another matter. It is less expensive, but it is better to come, perhaps, when the doctor himself is here!

Meanwhile, the Mandatory Health Care Insurance Fund states that the medicine is not in shortage./ Tv Klan