Breast cancer drug missing from Bulgarian pharmacies for nearly a month
Patients cannot find Reseligo, while the alternative, Zoladex, was dropped from the reimbursement list. The importer promises supplies by Oct. 16.
Symbolic image · Photo: Андрей Романенко / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
For almost a month, Bulgarian pharmacies have been out of Reseligo 3.6 mg, a maintenance therapy for breast cancer given once every 28 days. The drug suppresses female hormones and is paid for by the National Health Insurance Fund. "In this case, oncologists cannot help us because there is nothing to replace it with," one affected patient told bTV. Zoladex, which has the same active ingredient, was removed from the reimbursed drug list in August, and health authorities say they received no notice that its sales would stop.
The importer says the shortage is temporary and caused by higher-than-expected demand. Nikolai Kostov, chairman of the Association of Pharmacy Owners, said Zoladex had been the main alternative and suppliers "simply were not prepared for such a sharp increase in demand." The importer says the drug will be back in pharmacies by Oct. 16. The Health Ministry said at least 8,000 packs will be available by Friday, and a delivery of Zoladex is expected next week.