Kosovo citizens battling COVID-19 have incurred exorbitant costs for essential medications, with some individuals reportedly spending hundreds of euros. The antiviral drug Remdesivir, crucial for treating severe cases, was sold at staggering prices, with some paying as much as 800 euros.
The Ministry of Health is now actively seeking mechanisms to reimburse patients for the financial burdens they faced during the pandemic. However, the ministry has clarified that a structured therapy reimbursement scheme does not currently exist.
When the health crisis escalated and case numbers surged, Remdesivir was notably absent from the Kosovo market, leaving patients scrambling to secure the medication from alternative sources.
Shemsedin Dreshaj, a member of the Health Commission, detailed the challenges faced by patients during this tumultuous time. “During the initial phases when Remdesivir was recommended, it was not available within Kosovo. Patients had to seek it through various channels from abroad. At that time, it was not included in the essential medications list distributed in Kosovo, leading to high costs, sometimes reaching as much as 800 euros. Eventually, the price decreased, settling around 75 euros,” Dreshaj stated.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the pandemic two years later, infectious disease specialist Dreshaj is urging the Ministry of Health to implement effective reimbursement strategies. “It is essential for the Ministry to devise a plan to reimburse families burdened with exorbitant medical expenses due to the pandemic. Many families faced significant losses, including the deaths of loved ones, highlighting the pressing need for action similar to what has been taken by healthcare systems in Western nations,” Dreshaj added.
Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have reported substantial out-of-pocket expenses for their treatment, further corroborated by findings from the Patient Rights Association. Mayor Besim Kodra revealed, “We have received various reports reflecting a broad range of expenditures, with some individuals spending nothing at all, while others faced costs exceeding seven thousand euros. Our analysis indicates that the average financial burden for each COVID-19 patient was around 426 euros, encompassing medication costs, necessary medical procedures, and various challenges in receiving adequate healthcare services,” Kodra explained.
According to Kodra, instances of corruption were also rampant during this health crisis. “The treatment costs also included a notable 15 percent of respondents who reported having to pay unofficial fees to access health services. If we neglect to learn from this pandemic experience, we risk enduring an even harsher reality in the future. We must establish robust mechanisms capable of addressing any burgeoning health threats. Moreover, if patients were deprived of necessary medications, they deserve compensation for the injustice they endured due to insufficient drug availability,” Kodra expressed to KosovaPress.
Kodra echoed Dreshaj’s sentiments, emphasizing the necessity for a reimbursement framework to alleviate the financial strain on patients.
In response, the Ministry of Health asserted that without a public health insurance system in place, no reimbursement structure can be implemented for therapies purchased independently by patients. “In the absence of public health insurance, there can be no reimbursement for therapies that patients acquire on their own. COVID-19 treatments have been provided by the Ministry of Health and the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, as well as through generous donations, with every necessary therapy made available to patients,” stated the ministry’s response.
Contribution of Remdesivir in COVID-19 patient treatment was underscored in the Clinical Guideline for the Management and Treatment of COVID-19.
The National Audit Office’s calculations revealed that during just six months in 2021, over 260 thousand euros were allocated to procure Remdesivir for the Infectious Disease Clinic.
