The number of beneficiaries of reimbursable drugs falls, 1 year after the list was expanded

2025-10-23 07:22:53, Sociale CNA

The number of beneficiaries of reimbursable drugs falls, 1 year after the list

Almost 1 year after the entry into force of the expansion of the list of reimbursable drugs with about 50 new medications, it turns out that for January-August the number of beneficiaries has decreased.

According to the data of the report "On monitoring the indicators of the Ministry of Health" for the months of January-August 2025, 358,178 patients benefited from the list of reimbursable drugs, compared to the estimated 400,000, at a cost of 6,226 lek/patient. Compared to the number of beneficiaries of reimbursable drugs for January-August 2024, their number has decreased by about 3,320 patients or about 1% less.

For the reimbursement of medicines on the list during the months of January-August 2025, about 7.9 billion lek was spent (paid), or about 64% of the annual plan of 12.6 billion lek. While for the reimbursement of medicines on the list for the 8 months of 2024, almost 8.2 billion lek out of the planned 12.2 billion lek, or 68% of the annual plan, were spent.

According to the Ministry of Health, the list of reimbursable drugs has expanded during August 2024, adding 50 new drugs and 1,345 alternative treatments in total, up from 1,191 previously.

The new medications added include 38 new active ingredients and 18 new dosage forms. All new medications added to the List of Reimbursable Medications are medications that further support all diagnoses and pathologies of oncological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, bronchial asthma, pulmonary diseases, etc.

During the 8-month period of 2025, 56,066 patients benefited from diabetes packages, or 3,829 patients more than the same period last year.

For the reimbursement of medical equipment (diabetes kits), 105.2 million lek out of 250 million lek of the annual plan, or 70% of the annual plan, were spent (paid).

Meanwhile, in July 2024, Council of Ministers Decision No. 492, dated 24.07.2024, entered into force to increase the beneficiary categories of the cards for measuring diabetes rates, such as disabled workers and people with disabilities in the age group from 25 to 65 years.

In addition to people with Diabetes Mellitus in the age group 0-25 years and ≥ 65 years, the increase in beneficiary categories in 2024 led to an increase in expenses for the reimbursement of diabetes benefits. 147.2 million lek were paid for the reimbursement of diabetes benefits compared to 110.5 million lek spent in 2023. In 2024, expenses for benefits for chronically ill patients with diabetes increased by 33% compared to the previous year. During 2024, 57,511 patients benefited from diabetes benefits, or about 4% more than in 2023./ Monitor Magazine