Export ban on insulin and antibiotics for children extended for another month

Minister of Health, prof. Hristo Hinkov, on January 31 issued a new order banning the export of certain groups of medicines until 29 February 2024. These are insulins and analogues and other blood sugar lowering drugs, as well as antibiotics intended for systemic use in childhood.

The analysis of the information received by the Regional Health Inspectorate shows that over 400 pharmacies of open type, or nearly 15% of the pharmacies in Bulgaria, have been inspected.

With regard to medicinal products from the pharmacological group "Insulins and analogues", delays and irregular deliveries were observed in every third pharmacy of those inspected.

With regard to anti-infectious medicinal products for systemic use intended for the treatment of children, the findings again point to irregular supplies in about half of the pharmacies inspected.

According to the data of "Information Service" AD, in the last two months, the number of insulin and analogues packs prescribed exceeded the number of packs dispensed in a pharmacy. The percentage of prescriptions filled for insulins and analogues was up to 61%. In relation to the prescriptions and dispensed packs of antibiotics intended for systemic use in childhood, it can be summarised that there is a clear trend towards a percentage ratio between prescriptions and dispensed packs of medicines close to that already mentioned.

On 2 November, due to increased reports of shortages of these medicines in the pharmacy network, Minister Hinkov banned their export until 31 December 2023. Following an analysis of the current situation with the availability of the aforementioned groups of medicinal products, a decision was taken to issue this order, which comes into force tomorrow - 1 February and will be in effect until the end of the month.

Ministry of Health bans insulin exports

Following an in-depth analysis of the current situation of availability of the abovementioned groups of medicinal products, it has been found necessary to extend the export ban. The aim is to ensure a sufficient quantity of these medicinal products necessary for the treatment of Bulgarian patients to protect their health and ensure the continuity of their drug therapy.

The duration of the ban, as well as the specific medicinal products, have been determined in strict compliance with the principle of proportionality, in order to protect the health of the population and in compliance with the prohibition of arbitrary discrimination or disguised restriction on trade between Member States, as set out in Article 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Export ban on insulin and antibiotics for children extended