Commitment of the Vice President of EOPYY for nebulisers & physiotherapies C.F. – Access to Trikafta

Reimbursement of nebulisers and physiotherapies for C.F.

We are pleased to announce that with the personal commitment of the Vice President of EOPYY Ms. Karpodini Theano, the procedures for the integration into the electronic system and reimbursement of special new generation nebulizers (eflow) and their consumables as well as 10 physiotherapies per month for patients with Cystic Fibrosis are completed in the next few days. In the scheduled meeting held during the European Cystic Fibrosis Week, on Tuesday 19/11/2019, with the representatives of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association Mr. Dimitris Kontopidis, Ms. Anna Spinou and Mr. Vassilis Palios with the Vice President of EOPYY Ms. Karpodini Theano and the Head of Planning and Monitoring of Drug Administration EOPYY Ms. Kanis Charikleia identified the points where the specific procedures were ”stuck”, given that for these benefits has been issued a relevant EHIC since last winter, while meetings, letters and commitments had been held with our Association throughout the last few months.

Delays in Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symkevi

The delays in access for our patients to the Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symkevi combinations through IFT were once again highlighted, where the possibility of introducing them directly through the NHIF and the procedures to be followed were discussed.

Access to the new 3-fold combination Trikafta

In the same context, the possibilities of access for our patients to the new innovative drug combination Trikafta, which has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has already been submitted for approval to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), were discussed. The immediate need for access for high-risk patients with respiratory function FEV1<30% as well as for impaired patients with respiratory function FEV1<40%, both in the context of admission through IFTs and through early access programs, was highlighted. The Electronic Prescribing System (EPS) process was also discussed, the need to create a Cystic Fibrosis Patient Registry for prescribing specific treatments (as has been done for other conditions) with closed budgets, and the procedures for negotiating the price with the pharmaceutical company for direct importation of specific drug combinations and reimbursement through EOPYY.

Our meeting with Vice President Ms. Karpodini was renewed and we are in constant contact and cooperation to discuss and resolve all issues concerning Cystic Fibrosis patients.