NHS only way to combat high drug prices

2012-04-05

A NATIONAL health scheme (NHS) would be the best way to tackle the high price of medication in Cyprus, according to Avgoustinos Potamitis, head of the Cyprus Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (CAPC).

“We should move as quickly as possible on this [a national health scheme] so that it can be offered to everyone….we’re the only EU country that doesn’t have one,” said Potamitis yesterday, adding that this would be the best system, and the way forward.

Potamitis was referring to an investigation started by the Health Ministry into the high price of medication on the island compared to the rest of the EU, including Greece. Two Health Ministry officials left for Greece on Tuesday in order to look into the retail cost of medication.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.