Pharmacists Urge Erdoğan for Immediate Action Amid Economic Strain

In an urgent open letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Nurten Saydan, President of the All Pharmacists Employers' Association (TEİS), highlighted the growing crisis faced by Turkish pharmacists due to drug shortages and economic hardships.

Pharmacies Under Pressure

Saydan emphasized that 30,000 pharmacies nationwide are struggling to continue providing uninterrupted healthcare services, as they grapple with increasingly severe supply shortages and escalating costs. She demanded an update to the Drug Price Decree (PPSD), noting that the current framework has not been adjusted in 16 years, which has drastically reduced the profitability of pharmacies.

Economic Challenges and Price Discrepancies

Saydan pointed out the global economic crises have exacerbated the problem, leading to a sharp decrease in drug availability, thereby jeopardizing public health. She explained that patients are now searching multiple pharmacies for the medications they need, and the situation is becoming unsustainable for pharmacists.

“Access to medicines is a fundamental right, yet patients are facing obstacles in obtaining their prescriptions. This cannot continue,” Saydan warned.

Calls for Reform and Fair Pricing

One of the key issues highlighted was the Public Institution Discounts (PPI) provided to the Social Security Institution (SSI), with Saydan accusing pharmaceutical companies of avoiding their obligations to implement these discounts, forcing pharmacists to absorb the costs. She also urged that PPIs be managed directly between the SSI and pharmaceutical companies, removing this burden from pharmacists.

Currency and Inflation Impact

Saydan criticized the large gap between the Euro exchange rate used in drug pricing (set at 21.67 TL) and the current market rate (38 TL), noting that the annual updates to this rate have caused disruptions in the drug supply chain.

She also pointed out that between 2022 and 2025, minimum wages increased by 420%, while the exchange rate for drug pricing rose by just 244%. This discrepancy has led to a significant decline in the availability of medicines.

Urgent Action Needed

Saydan concluded her letter by calling on authorities to take immediate action to resolve these issues and ensure sustainable conditions for pharmacists to continue their work without commercial pressures. She stressed that pharmacists are trained to be scientists, not merchants, and should not bear the burden of unfair pricing practices.

Source: karar.com

Translation: Cem Cetinguc