Export ban on insulin and antibiotics for children extended

Minister of Health, prof. Hristo Hinkov, on December 29 issued a new order banning the export of certain medicines until the end of January 2024.

These are insulins and analogues and other blood sugar-lowering drugs, as well as antibiotics intended for systemic use in childhood.

On 2 November, due to increased reports of shortage of these drugs in the pharmacy network, Minister Hinkov banned their export until 31 December, 2023.

Ministry of Health bans insulin exports

"After a thorough analysis of the current situation with the availability of the above-mentioned groups of medicinal products and according to the information provided by the Bulgarian Drug Agency and marketing authorisation holders, it was found necessary to extend the export ban.

By setting the new deadline – January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024, a balance will be struck between the objective of the applied measure - ensuring a sufficient quantity of these medicinal products, necessary for the treatment of Bulgarian patients, protecting their health and ensuring the continuity of their drug therapy - on the one hand, and on the other hand, not violating for a long period of time the right of economic operators to carry out the free movement of the goods they trade - in this case medicinal products", the Ministry of Health said.

Notification under an urgent procedure of the European Commission was carried out through the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

Extensive stock checks will be carried out on wholesalers' warehouses until the export ban expires.