Reseligio breast cancer drug deliveries expected in Bulgaria by October 16

Deliveries of the breast cancer medication Reseligio are expected by October 16 following a nearly month-long shortage in Bulgarian pharmacies. Importers have stated they will provide at least 8,000 packs of the drug.

Information received by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) indicates that sales were temporarily suspended due to production reasons, with a projected restoration date of October 15. Reseligio contains goserelin and is administered once every 28 days as part of hormonal therapy for women with breast cancer.

The shortage is linked to the removal of Zoladex, a drug with the same active ingredient, from the NHIF reimbursement list in August. This change led to a sudden and unforeseen surge in demand for Reseligio. Nikolay Kostov, Chairman of the Association of Pharmacy Owners, noted that the market was unprepared for the rapid shift in demand after Zoladex was excluded from the list of medicines covered for home treatment.

The Ministry of Health has announced plans to deliver Zoladex in the coming week, while the NHIF advises patients unable to find their prescribed medication to seek guidance.