Promise fulfilled; Medicines are Now cheaper; Lončar: "This is a permanent measure, citizens should not worry"

As previously announced, the state has allocated 3.7 billion dinars (around €32 million) from the budget for this purpose.

At a press conference, Lončar stressed that citizens of Serbia should know that the state will cover the costs as promised, and that they should not worry because the reduction in medicine prices is permanent.

Around 80,000 people in Serbia suffer from heart conditions alone.

According to Lončar, starting today, all patients will pay significantly less at pharmacies. However, he noted that everyone must have a prescription from their chosen doctor.

He told citizens that this is a permanent measure and that there is no need to stockpile medicines.

Lončar said that, from today, patients will be able to purchase two medicines for heart failure and 16 medicines for anticoagulant therapy at significantly lower prices. He added that the state is allocating tens of millions of euros to make medicines more affordable.

“The medicines that patients previously paid full price for — those for anticoagulant therapy and heart failure — can now be purchased at a significantly lower price by patients who have a prescription from their chosen doctor,” he added.

Lončar said patients must have a prescription from their doctor, while the state will cover part of the cost.

“Whether it is 50 or 70 percent depends on the medicine. Every patient who has these conditions has already gone through this procedure several times and knows how it works. The only difference is that they previously did not have the opportunity to purchase these medicines at a lower price,” Lončar said.

He explained that the first group includes two medicines for heart failure that had previously been listed exclusively on List A, with strictly defined indications for uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type 2.

“They will remain on that list for patients who have been using them so far — patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. What is new is that these medicines can now be purchased with a prescription,” the minister said.

He added that one of the medicines previously cost 4,457 dinars, while its price from today is 2,228 dinars.

The second group consists of 16 anticoagulant medicines that can be used to prevent strokes and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular arrhythmias, as well as in patients with high blood pressure and additional risk factors.

“We believe these are significant savings, and we believe this is extremely important for our patients. What citizens need to know is that the Republic of Serbia is allocating tens of millions of euros for this,” Lončar said.