The Supreme Audit Office assesses that the Medicines 75+ program has improved access
seniors to medicinal products. The household budgets of the elderly have seen a decline in spending on medicines, said NIK President Krzysztof Kwiatkowski.
The auditors' findings show, among other things, that some of the costs
spent on drugs was left in the pockets of seniors. "For example.
At the end of 2017, the national savings total was nearly 490
PLN million" - emphasized Krzysztof Kwiatkowski.
The goal of the Drug 75 plus Program, introduced on September 1, 2016. Medicines 75 plus Program was to improve access to pharmacotherapy for the elderly. The program assumed
Providing free access to individuals who are 75 years of age or older
to medicines, foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses
and medical devices. The Minister of Health was required to announce a list of free products for seniors every two months.
Ministry of Health data on the Medicines 75 plus program in 2018:
- 2.4 million seniors who have benefited from free medications
- PLN 693.3 million for the implementation of the project in 2018 year
- 40 million free medicine packs issued to seniors
- 21 million filled prescriptions with an eligibility code "S"
- 2043 items on the list of 75 plus drugs
The Ministry of Health is preparing another change in regulations, thanks to which even more seniors over 75 will benefit from free medicines. Specialists will be able to issue prescriptions for free medicines, but only in an electronic form, which will eliminate the need to confirm them with a primary care doctor (this will save one visit).
