Biological therapy is a modern therapy used to treat rheumatological diseases and patients literally means – life because it stops the progression of the disease, prevents disability and thus improves the quality of life.
It is located on the federal list of medicines, but is not covered by the Solidarity Fund, which means that the cantonal health insurance institutes are responsible for its financing.
Suffered in SBK and USK convicts to suffer
Although the children are available, suffer from 18 years of age, this biological therapy cannot be obtained in all cantons.
According to Alma Serdarević-Stefanišin, the President of the Association of Rheumatoid Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases “forces” in BiH, Sarajevo (KS), Tuzla (Canton), Zenica-Nobojski (HERCE), Bio-Neretva (HERC), Biological therapy.
In cantons such as Central Bosnia (SBK), Una-Sanski (USK), all patients are not entitled to biological therapy except that the coupe is, and annually its price for one patient costs between 10,000 and 20,000 KM.
– As for SBK, they made the scale of the application of biological therapy themselves, so they give young people up to 26 years of age, all possible legal regulations violated. Older patients are left to themselves, if they don’t have money that the coupe can be treated with base medications, which are of course they are less effective and begging God that the disease is not worse. And the USK introduction of biological therapy goes to small steps. The children received it, they also receive some adults, but insufficient – the states of Serdarević-Stefanišin.
The Association, says, struggles that there is any cantons equal to all cantons, but they encounter the resistance of the authorities who are defending them to have no money.
– It is a great resistance to SBK that is defending that they have no money. But people who lead health care in that canton should know that investing in treatment is not a cost than a profit for the entire community. Biological therapy is not long-term, something that is taken for the rest of your life. Those patient leads to remission after three to five years when he becomes capable of working and socially useful. Inlining the cantons consciously lead to a patient in disability after which the state must take care of him for the rest of his life in a way that he pays him disability, someone else’s care … – Clarify Serdarevic-Stefanišin.
He says there is no more than about 20 patients in SBK who do not have the right to do any of the therapy, which means that it is not a great amount of money.
– These are patients who will be treated with any years of therapy for several years. After entering the permanent remission, the disease can be maintained and base therapy. But many do not have hearing for that, “Serdarević-Stefanišin points out.
Citizens initiated a petition
In order to assist with diseased fellow citizens, the citizens of the SBK started the Petition to ensure biological therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in BiH.
The availability of biological therapy is required to all care regardless of the age and the geographical destination in BiH to prevent permanent deformities and disability.
Delegatine in the House of the FBiH Peoples prof. dr. Fatima Gavrankapetanović – Smailbegović, says that from the media learned that the SBC is launched a petition for the availability of therapy with relying arthritis.
– I was surprised, because I thought the therapy was equally accessible to all patients. Unfortunately, the practice in the cantons is uneven – some cantons have secured therapy, while others have not yet done so, which leads to unacceptable discrimination against patients by place of residence. The KS example shows that the solution exists. Three years ago, there were 60 patients in the waiting list prescribed by biological therapy. With the support of the KS Assembly and the Health Insurance Institute, the KS was launched a special program that secured all patients from the waiting list. Today, there are 260 patients in KS therapy, but a waiting list has reappeared from 80 patients. I expect the Institute and this time, through a special program, include those patients – emphasizes Gavrankapetanović – Smailbegović.
To help with patients, the delegate will submit an initiative at the first next session of the Health Security Health Insurance to ensure biological therapy for all patients who are medically prescribed in the KS, writing Factor.
– We must not allow patients to be victims of administrative boundaries. Health is the right of all citizens, regardless of the canton in which they live – said Gavrankapetanović – Smailbegović.
