Health Minister Arben Vitita has stated that the lack of paloclib bar at the Oncology Clinic during 2026 has been caused by doubling the demand for this drug, while the first supply tender has failed due to lack of bidders.
Responding to questions asked by PDK deputy Sala Jashari, in association with the death of the breast cancer patient, who had remained four months without therapy, and the lack of oncological drugs, Vitita said that palbociclib was first introduced to the Essencial Bar List in 2025.
He announced that the first contract on this drug was linked on July 17th, while the first supply had reached the central medicine in Ceku in mid-August 2025. According to him, demand was higher than initial planning, as the number of patients seeking this bar had doubled.
In the first question, the palbociclib drug was first introduced to Kosovo on the list of essential drugs in the year 2025. The preparations for his safety have immediately begun, and, being the newly introduced drug on the list, planning has been made according to demands that have been in the oncology clinic until then. Based on this planning, planning has been made for 40 patients. The Ministry of Health has demanded the additional budget at the Ministry of Finance, and this requirement has been approved by the Ministry of Finance. Following the necessary procedures, the contract has been linked to July 17th and, in mid-August, has come for the first time to the central medicine in Ceku. During this time it has been found to be higher in demand for this drug, since part of the patients who provided it earlier privately, not being on the list of essential drugs, when this bar was put on the list of essential drugs, have normally begun to look for this drug at the oncology clinic.
Also, during 2025, due to lack of institutions and the Assembly, there have been no budgetary regimes, nor has the budget been adopted. This situation has continued until March, where, despite the demand for growth of the budget, due to extraordinary circumstances, the budget has been spent with a view to a review in May-June. But the honoured MP, this review did not happen, as the month of April the Parliament was disbanded and we were put into electoral process for the June 7th elections. As a result of doubling the requirements for this drug, the contract has been spent 130% according to the legal opportunity given to us, and what was planned for a year to be spent on 100%, due to the doubling of patients who have sought this bar, has resulted in spending 130% for only 9 months. The possibility of opening the new procedure has been impossible without budget approval. Following the introduction of budget law and vehicle transfer, new tender procedures have immediately been launched, taking into account the rapid spending of this drug. First offer, unfortunately, has failed because there was no bidder. Immediately after the failure of the first bid, the tender has been opened again with accelerated procedures, and, on July 30, 2026, contracts have been established and, on August 18th of this year, has begun issuing at the central drug store, Vitita added.
Vitia said that during 2026, the supply for the needs of the Oncology Clinic was not at the level of 2024 and 2025. He also cited lack of marketing permits for certain drugs, delays in supply, and the failure of tender procedures.
During 2026, the supply of medicine for the needs of the oncology clinic was not at the level of 2024 and 2025 because of the reasons I mentioned to her about her bar. Other reasons listed in this absence are some drugs that did not have marketing authorization. The other cause, delays in supply as a result of procedures, failures due to lack of bidders and, in some cases, overcoming the projected amount based on the official list of drug prices, he said.
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