Diabetes is a disease that is diagnosed in an increasing number of Poles. Appropriate drugs would help in the struggle with it, reducing the risk of serious complications, but not all of them were covered by a refund or are covered by a partial refund. Check which drugs for diabetes are reimbursed by the National He alth Fund from May 1, 2015.
Diabetesis a disease that more and more people struggle with. Currently, it is diagnosed in over 3 million Poles, of which about 30,000 die every year. due to complications (mainly heart and vascular diseases). Appropriate drugs can prevent them, but not all of them are reimbursed by the National He alth Fund.
Reimbursement of diabetes medications in Poland
In Poland, two types of insulin are used - classic (human) and analog. The former is usually used by patients with type 2 diabetes. Analogue insulins, i.e. improved classic insulins, are indicated for patients who find it difficult to maintain a constant level of insulin concentration, and experience large fluctuations in sugar levels, especially at night. They are more often recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes. Insulin analogues are reimbursed (partially) only from September 1, 2013. Until then, Poland was the only country in the European Union that did not reimburse these drugs.
In addition, in the treatment of diabetes, oral diabetic drugs derived from biguanide (metformin), sulfonylurea (PSM) and acarbose are used in various combinations.
According to the announcement of the Minister of He alth of April 23, 2015 on the list of reimbursed drugs, foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses and medical devices as of May 1, 2015, insulin prices remain unchanged compared to the list of 1 March this year. Patients still pay 30 percent for analog insulin. values. For example, from May 1, 2015, NovoRapid Penfill costs PLN 42.73, and Levemir - PLN 79.17. Experts fear that due to the high prices of analogue insulins, patients will return to cheaper, older-generation insulins, which may result in more frequent hypoglycaemia, and thus - a greater number of complications and more frequent hospitalization of patients.
They argue that analog insulin should be the drug of first choice in the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes.all other patients should be included in the price of human insulin). A similar solution is used in almost all countries of the European Union.
The changes concern oral diabetes medications. In the case of 45 preparations containing metformin, there were reductions from 0.01 to 0.88 PLN.
People with diabetes also use strips that are necessary for measuring blood glucose levels. Strips are reimbursed for patients with type 1 diabetes, other types of diabetes who require at least 3 injections of insulin daily, and who receive insulin pump therapy for their diabetes. In most cases, they have to pay PLN 3.20 for them. Others have to spend much more.
Modern drugs still not reimbursed
Modern drugs for diabetics - incretin drugs - are not reimbursed. These preparations lower the sugar level only when it begins to increase alarmingly. If the sugar level is correct, they will not work. This is different from insulin and other older drugs that lower sugar no matter what the blood sugar level is.
Incretin drugs cost between 200 and 600 zlotys a month. Few people can afford such an expense.