KTTB: The Sole Solution to the Prescription Problem is E-Prescription and Medication Tracking System

The board of directors of the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association stated in a written announcement that they could not propose to physicians to start issuing e-prescriptions again due to the lack of trust in the new contract proposed by the Social Insurance Department.

The announcement highlighted that new regulations regarding patients' access to medication are on the agenda within the Social Insurance Department, affiliated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. It pointed out the serious problems in patients' access to medication after investigations and arrests related to prescriptions.

"PHYSICIANS CONTINUE TO ISSUE PRESCRIPTIONS AND REGULATE THEIR PATIENTS' TREATMENT"

The statement included the following remarks:

"The responsibility for this situation lies with the Ministry and the Social Insurance Department managers, who, instead of conducting investigations into prescriptions considered problematic within the framework of the contract rules between physicians and the department, reported them to the police, leading to a point where professional honor was seriously compromised. As physicians, due to feeling unsafe because of this investigation method, we have distanced ourselves from issuing prescriptions through the insurance online system. Physicians continue to issue prescriptions and regulate the treatment of their examined patients."

The announcement emphasized that proposing prescription writing in accordance with the prescription regulation prepared under the law numbered 13/1976 is the only safe way. It highlighted that the long-worked-on e-prescription and medication tracking system, which has not been put into use for a long time, will be a permanent and secure solution for physicians, pharmacists, and patients to solve problems.

The statement also included the following remarks:

"In the system that will be implemented on January 1, it is stated that only one prescription with 4 items of medication will be paid for insured individuals under the age of 40 and their dependents, such as their children. This means that only one child's medications will be covered for a family with two children. For individuals over the age of 40, it is stated that a maximum of 8 drugs will be paid in 2 prescriptions, each with 4 items. This is clearly contrary to Article 73, Paragraph 4 of the Social Insurance Law, which defines the services to be provided to the insured as 'providing drugs during the treatment.' We openly invite the relevant ministry and department to fulfill their legal obligations and to produce decisions that respect patient rights."

The statement claimed that the newly alleged system is a decorated version of the old system. It emphasized the need to find solutions to the problems arising from the inadequacies and deficiencies in internal audits in the past and to establish control mechanisms.

"DECISIONS REGARDING THE LIST OF MEDICATIONS UNDER INSURANCE COVERAGE SHOULD BE MADE IN COLLABORATION WITH KTTB AND PHYSICIANS"

Expressing concern about serious problems due to deficiencies in control mechanisms, the statement emphasized, "The Social Insurance Department management should work together with the KTTB and physicians when making decisions about prescription review in the council, the list of drugs covered by insurance, and the prescription inclusions. The relevant ministry and department administration must definitely work together with professional organizations and unions to find common solutions."