Restriction lifted for 772 prescription-only medicines
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A recently imposed restriction on medicines in Georgia will be lifted for more than 750 medicines.
As of September 1, restrictions were placed on about 6,000 medicines meaning they were only available with a doctors’ prescription. However today, Georgia’s Ministry of Health announced it would lift this ban on 772 medicines.
At a special media briefing, Health Minister David Sergeenko announced 772 medications were added to the group of drugs sold that would be sold in pharmacies without a prescription.
Sergeenko noted this was the fifth time the list of approved drugs had been changed. Currently 4,138 medications were sold without prescription and this would increase to 4,888 on Monday when the rule change was implemented.
"The majority [of prescription-free medicines] are for external use, such as ointments, however there are some anti-inflammatory and painkilling injectable medicines as well as one kind of an injectable steroid – prednisolone [available],” he said.
The Health Minister said two short-acting injection medicines used to reduce blood pressure – Papaverine – and Dibazol – were also added to the approved list, as well as two injection drugs for diabetes management.
Sergeenko said the Ministry was advised to enlarge the list by the national Association of Pharmacists.
"Consultations will continue and the changes are not final,” Sergeenko said.
Newly classified drugs available in Georgia without a prescription:
- Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory agents of local dermatological use;
- Antiviral medication;
- Medications for ophthalmic diseases, ear drops;
- Immuno-modulators;
- Antifungal agents;
- Vitamins (injectable drug forms)
- Drugs that influence metabolic processes;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (injectable drug forms)
- Drugs for erectile dysfunction;
- Hepatoprotective agents;
- Antihelminthic and antiprotosoic drugs;
- Biogenic stimulants;
- Anti-bacterial anti-inflammatory drugs; and
- Electrolytic concentrates to encourage rehydration.
Pharmacies across the country have been busier than normal as people rush to stock up on medicines before new rules restricting the sale of thousands of medicines is enforced in Georgia.
Georgian Health Minister David Sergeenko has stated that a certain category of Georgian citizens will receive ambulatory medicines free of charge or at a highly discounted price.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has announced that pensioners and people with disabilities will enjoy 50 to 80 per cent discounts for chronic disease medications.
Head of the State Regulatory Agency for Medical Activities of the Ministry of Health of Georgia Gia Tvalavadze and 19 others have been charged for their involvement in the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs in 15 pharmacies of Tbilisi and Gori, the Georgian State Security Service reported.
The socially vulnerable population of Georgia and people with disabilities will soon be able to buy more medicines at a symbolic or halved price starting next year, with medicines for epilepsy and Parkinson’s being added to the list.
100 of 500 checked hospitals have been fined and six doctors have been banned for service-related violations by the State Regulation Agency of Medical Activities, said Zaal Kapanadze, director of the agency.