The Slovak Alliance for Rare Diseases has raised concerns about a new regulation on drug policy proposed by the Ministry of Health, warning that it could severely limit access to medications for rare and oncological diseases. The alliance criticized the ministry for pushing the proposal without public or expert debate, arguing it discriminates against the most vulnerable patients by applying strict economic criteria that innovative drugs often cannot meet. The draft regulation introduces mathematical thresholds that may effectively block these drugs from entering the reimbursement system. The alliance pointed out that Slovakia already ranks among the worst in the EU in terms of access to such treatments. It warned that the new rules could leave patients without any treatment options, even denying them access through current exemption mechanisms. The Ministry, meanwhile, claims the regulation is needed to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare budget, estimating potential savings of at least €583 million over five years.
Source: TASR
