Cyprus is grappling with critically low supplies of injectable diabetes medications due to a global shortage.
This shortage stems from a surge in the use of these drugs for weight loss, often by those without diabetes.
The increased, and frequently unnecessary, administration of these medications has overwhelmed pharmaceutical companies’ production capacity, hindering their ability to fulfil orders for patients with genuine medical needs.
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has acknowledged the issue for several weeks, notifying doctors and patients that none of the usual suppliers participated in the latest tender. Consequently, the General Healthcare System (GHS) is currently unable to provide these medications to its beneficiaries.
The HIO is actively seeking alternative sources to secure these vital medications for GHS-covered diabetic patients.
In response to the crisis, the Cyprus Patients’ Federation (CyFPA) urges Cypriot doctors to act responsibly when prescribing these medications. They emphasise that prescriptions, both within and outside the GHS system, should be reserved for diabetic patients and those with legitimate medical needs.
CyFPA also appeals to the public to understand the urgency of prioritizing these medications for those who truly require them and to avoid pressuring doctors for weight-loss purposes.
CyFPA further calls on pharmaceutical companies to engage positively with the HIO to ensure these medications remain available within the GHS framework.
Dr. Konstantinos Tsioutis, President of CyFPA’s Scientific Advisory Committee, highlighted the crucial role these medications play in managing diabetes, particularly for patients with uncontrolled conditions, obesity-related diabetes, or an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
However, he expressed concern that the widespread adoption and use of these drugs have led to critical global shortages.
“This situation,” Tsioutis stated, “has created a significant challenge for healthcare systems and pharmaceutical companies, putting access to these vital medications at risk for those who need them most. We are witnessing this firsthand in Cyprus, where diabetics who rely on these drugs are unable to obtain them due to the dramatic increase in prescriptions for non-medical purposes.”
Tsioutis concluded by urging the medical community and the public to collaborate in ensuring these medications are only dispensed to patients with a valid medical justification, as outlined in the product information until the global supply chain recovers.
