EOPYY: After the locksmith for the pharmacy,unlock 3 measures to end the suffering of 120,000 patients

The unprecedented incident yesterday at the EOPYY pharmacy on Alexandras Avenue has accelerated the implementation of long-planned measures to reduce the inconvenience faced by chronic patients when collecting their medications. The sight of the Minister of Health arriving at the pharmacy with a locksmith to open it—after its shutters were down due to the simultaneous absence of all three pharmacists—was the “last straw” in addressing a longstanding systemic issue.

EOPYY administrator Theano Karpodini attempted to justify the situation by pointing to a two-hour delay in the pharmacy’s opening. She also noted that the facility does not serve oncology patients. However, 30 individuals with other serious conditions were left waiting outside.

In light of the public outrage caused by the incident, the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, announced the first steps that will be implemented shortly. These measures have been under discussion for months, as the struggle of citizens waiting in harsh weather conditions outside EOPYY pharmacies to obtain treatments for their critical illnesses is well-known.

One upcoming measure involves distributing certain high-cost medications (FYK) through private pharmacies. It’s worth noting that medications for chronic and life-threatening conditions were dispensed by local pharmacies until 2010 when the system was changed.

“One of the scenarios we are working on is to establish cooperation between EOPYY pharmacies and local pharmacies. However, this legislative regulation will not apply to all medications but will specify which drugs will be accessible through private pharmacies and which diseases they will cover, drawing lessons from the model used during the pandemic,” stated Minister Georgiadis in remarks to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

The request to allow some FYK to be dispensed by local pharmacies has long been a demand of pharmacists, with the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association having submitted a detailed proposal to the Ministry of Health. Even before yesterday’s incident, the Minister had expressed positive views on the issue. Now, the reform is being fast-tracked.

Initial Discussions Focused on Lower-Cost Medications

Early talks revolved around distributing the more affordable drugs from the FYK (high-cost medication) category through local pharmacies. However, according to reports, the most likely outcome after evaluating various scenarios is to open an additional “channel” specifically for certain therapeutic categories.

What Pharmacists Say

Representatives of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association (PFS) argue that it is a uniquely Greek phenomenon for high-cost medications to be exclusively distributed outside private pharmacies. They assert that they have the necessary resources (e.g., refrigerators for storing certain medications) to handle a portion of the FYK.

Pharmacists believe that if they were to process 80,000 prescriptions, the problem of long waits at EOPYY pharmacies would be resolved. They emphasize that local pharmacies already dispense some medications to patients with multiple sclerosis.

“The hardship faced by these vulnerable groups who desperately need their medication cannot be addressed within the current distribution framework at EOPYY pharmacies. Leveraging the existing network of 11,000 private pharmacies, which are evenly distributed nationwide, is a logical solution. The government’s promises to allow ‘high-cost medications from local pharmacies’ to reduce patient suffering must be implemented immediately. Above all, the dignity and protection of patients must be safeguarded,” the PFS stated in a press release yesterday.

How Distribution Will Work

The critical point, according to reports, is to avoid increasing pharmaceutical expenditure, as this would lead to resistance from pharmaceutical companies if the clawback rises further. Another concern for the Ministry of Health is the potential for parallel exports. In any case, the distribution of FYK will utilize the same platform and process currently in place for EOPYY pharmacies.

Home Delivery

Another upcoming measure, already under consideration, is expanding home delivery of expensive medications. This initiative has begun on a small scale, with approximately 2,000 patients receiving their medications at home each month. Currently, this service is provided to patients with cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and motor neuron disease.

EOPYY has announced a tender to find a private provider capable of distributing expensive medications to potentially 110,000–120,000 patients, the number served monthly by its pharmacies. By March, the process is expected to progress, increasing the number of insured individuals receiving medications at home, particularly in island and remote areas. The measure will cover all conditions, and insured individuals will apply via an EOPYY platform to have their treatments delivered to them.

Recruitment

The third pillar of the Ministry of Health’s interventions involves hiring pharmacists for EOPYY pharmacies. The understaffing of these critical facilities highlights the lack of dynamic interventions by the Organization’s administration in recent years. A few months ago, a call was issued for the recruitment of temporary staff at EOPYY pharmacies. Of the 70 available positions, only about 15 applications were submitted, and no further calls were issued to increase staffing. The immediate hiring of pharmacists to reduce long waiting times is a top priority for the Ministry of Health.

The Timeline of Yesterday’s Incident

The Minister of Health received a call yesterday morning from an insured individual informing him about the closed pharmacy on Alexandras Avenue. “Minister, what’s happening right now at the EOPYY pharmacy on Alexandras is unacceptable. I’ve been waiting here for quite some time,” the individual reportedly told Adonis Georgiadis.

The Vice President of EOPYY, the General Director, and other colleagues arrived at the scene. “Another issue emerged: the pharmacy door was locked, and the absent employees had the keys. We had to call a locksmith to open the door,” said Georgiadis. “After our intervention, we collected the patients’ prescriptions and began processing them. While we waited, we served coffee to the waiting citizens, although, of course, this does not negate the inconvenience they experienced,” he added.

Official Explanation for the Delay

According to the official statement provided by the head of EOPYY, the delayed opening of the pharmacy was due to the simultaneous illness and subsequent absence of employees, without prior notification to the organization’s management. The incident is under thorough investigation, and accountability will be determined as necessary.

Theano Karpodini attempted to justify the unjustifiable in her announcement. Apologizing to the insured individuals, she stated: “The regular operating hours for serving the public begin at 8:00 a.m. As soon as the Administration was informed of the inability to open the pharmacy at the scheduled time, instructions were immediately given for pharmacists from the central office to head to the pharmacy. With the assistance of the Director of the regional office overseeing the pharmacy, who immediately ensured the pharmacy was opened, operations were fully restored by 10:00 a.m., and the insured individuals were served.” She also emphasized that the pharmacy in question does not serve oncology patients, noting that cancer patients are served by a nearby pharmacy. However, this does not negate the inconvenience suffered by dozens of patients with other conditions.

“The increased attendance of insured individuals observed at some pharmacies in recent days is due to reduced response times in electronic applications following the recent cyberattack on the SYZEFXIS network and the new electronic prescription system, which led to delays in service, resulting in some insured individuals returning today,” she added.

Alternative Options for Patients

EOPYY also informed insured individuals that it is not necessary for them to visit the pharmacies personally, as they can receive their medications from private clinics where they undergo their treatments. Additionally, according to Ms. Karpodini, patients treated at public hospitals can receive their therapies there.

120,000 Patients Served Monthly

EOPYY pharmacies serve approximately 120,000 patients each month. These are individuals with chronic and life-threatening conditions, including oncology patients, those with multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, transplants, and thalassemia. Furthermore, some high-cost medications, such as those used for assisted reproduction, are also distributed.

There are a total of 38 EOPYY pharmacies across the country. Eight of these are located in Athens and Piraeus, with the remainder in major cities. However, the number of pharmacies is insufficient to meet the needs of the entire eligible population. Additionally, there are 70 distribution points collaborating with EOPYY pharmacies, including health centers and regional offices of the organization.

Source: pagenews.gr