After four months of installing the technical table to solve the problem of drug shortages, the Government announced on Monday the implementation of the Solidarity Medicines (MedicSol) program.
This “MedicSol” program seeks that patients who cannot find their drugs in the Social Security Fund (CSS) can obtain them at affiliated businesses at no cost. It starts from this Tuesday, June 28.
The director of Pharmacies and Drugs of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), Elvia Lau, stressed that this pilot plan initially covers only four polyclinics: Generoso Guardia (Santa Librada-San Miguelito), Manuel Ferrer Valdés (Calle 25-Calidonia), Manuel María Valdés (San Miguelito) and Alejandro de La Guardia (Betania); however, MedicSol applies only to patients who have a file in these health facilities before May 15 of this year.
He explained that the plan is divided into three phases: stage 1A of the first phase includes five drugs for hypertension: amlodipine, irbesartan, indapamide and lisinopril, and for cholesterol, simvastatin.
In the following phases, new medications and more CSS polyclinics will be incorporated in the provinces of Panamá Oeste, Colón, Chiriquí and Herrerra.
While in the second phase the previous medications will be included and antidiabetics will be added; and in phase 3 paracetamol and ibuprofen will be included.
Lau pointed out that when the insured does not obtain the requested medication at the CSS pharmacy, a digital prescription will be issued through MedicSol that will be credited on his ID so that he can go to one of the affiliated stores to obtain the medicine. The person picks up the medications and the CSS will pay for them at a fairly affordable price.
The businesses affiliated with MedicSol in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito will be identified and are: Xtra, El Rey, El Machetazo, El Fuerte and Metro Plus supermarkets.
