OAY Delays in Approving Injectable Diabetes Medications

Doctors and patients are expressing frustration with the Health Insurance Organisation's (OAY) delays in approving injectable medications for diabetes. These delays are leading to treatment interruptions or inappropriate dosages, endangering patients' health.

In one case, approval for a dosage change took three months, despite the doctor's protests. The problem concerns both initial prescriptions and continuation or change of treatment.

A doctor reported waiting four weeks for a response to requests for diabetic patients, including initiations, changes, and continuations of treatment. While other drugs are approved quickly, injectable diabetes medications are delayed.

Bureaucracy in renewing prescriptions for chronic diseases is also highlighted. For injectable diabetes medications, there is a different prescription process depending on the medication.

OSAK has received many reports of delays. The chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Konstantinos Tsioutis, stressed that the delays are not justified and that patients have the right to timely treatment.

The OAY acknowledged the problem and stated that it is identifying the rules that cause the delays and evaluating the procedures.