A CARDIOLOGIST has warned that a shortage of a common medicine could be putting thousands of people’s lives at risk.
Doctor Louis Kontozis, who works at the Evangelismos Clinic in Paphos, yesterday told the Mail that the shortage of warfarin “seems to be quite major”.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that is administered orally and is prescribed to people with an increased tendency for thrombosis or as prophylaxis in those who have already formed a blood clot which requires treatment. This can help prevent formation of future blood clots and help reduce the risk of embolism. Common clinical indications for warfarin use are atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Kontozis estimated that several thousand people were taking the drug across the island, adding that it had been freely available a couple of years ago in both the private and public sectors.
“A while ago, I noticed that its availability had become limited in the private sector and some private pharmacies had to get their supply from government pharmacies, who had a certain amount of stock,” he said.
“The situation went on for over a year and in the last month or so, it has become practically impossible for private sector pharmacies to receive any supplies at all, with patients sent to government pharmacies in general hospitals.”
Kontozis said the problem was now being seen in the town’s General Hospital. “One of my patients was recently told that the hospital had run out of warfarin and would not be receiving any further supplies for a few days.”
He added that the shortages were not simply limited to Paphos, with several of his colleagues across the island also encountering a lack of supply.
“Some are advising their patients to obtain the medicine from the north,” he said.
“I have heard rumours that the shortage has been caused by a lack of the raw material used in the drug’s manufacture, and I am very worried about the situation.”
The Ministry of Health’s Pharmaceutical Services acknowledged that the problem had been caused as a result of the manufacturing process.
“We are receiving a major order on June 28 and in the meantime have requested extra supplies so patients do not go without the medicine,” a spokesman explained. “We have also been pressuring alternative importers to bring in the drug.”
He added that the shortage was not only being seen in Cyprus, but across Europe.
The secretary-general of the Cyprus Pharmaceutical Society attributed the shortage to the recent drop in the price of all medicines.
“Warfarin is very cheap, with the importers deciding to bring in smaller quantities,” said Pavlos Varelias. He added that the drug was only distributed to the government sector, who then allocated a specific amount to private pharmacies.
“If somebody prescribed the drug stops taking it, even for a few days, the effect would be similar to asking a diabetic to stop taking insulin. It is life-threatening,” said Kontozis.
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