Access to modern treatments for liver disease patients, along with the strengthening of prevention and early diagnosis, were at the centre of talks between the Cyprus Liver Patients and Friends Association “Prometheus” and officials from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), known locally as DOAY.
The meeting brought together Prometheus president Giannoula Koulla with DOAY’s Athos Tsinontides and Dr Monica Kyriakou, along with Senior Officer Sofia Petridou, according to a statement issued by the association.
Discussions centred on a series of proposals put forward by Prometheus aimed at improving procedures for liver disease patients.
Chief among them was a call to simplify the process for securing medication for Hepatitis C patients through the Named Patient procedure, in order to cut red tape and speed up access to treatment.
The association also raised concerns over the medication-approval process for patients with chronic liver disease, arguing that where a chronic condition is involved, and where the treating physician considers it appropriate, approvals should be granted for periods longer than one year. Such a change, the statement said, would ease the burden on patients and support continuous, uninterrupted access to treatment.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the need for better training of personal and general practitioners, to help ensure earlier recognition and referral of patients who may be suffering from viral hepatitis or other liver conditions.
