Sejm allocates PLN 125 mln for free medicines for Poles over 75

Polish parliament (Sejm) has adopted a law on free medicines for seniors and allocated PLN 125 million for the first year. According to it, all patients aged 75 and over will receive free-of-charge medicines that are included in a separate listing on the medical refund list (the list will be gradually expanded). "The list will be related to the treatment of diseases of old age. There are no antibiotics, antipyretics, or other drugs used in ad hoc situations. We will focus on those medicines that actually unavailable for seniors today. Most likely it will not be the cheapest drugs, but those more expensive, " claimed Konstanty Radziwiłł, the Minister of Health. The first act for free supply of people over 75, the Minister of Health will announce no later than on September 1. Only GP doctors and nurses will be allowed to prescribe the free-of-charge medicines. Due to the increasing number of elderly people and a potential expanding of the list of medicines, it was decided to increase the budget for the project by 15 precent in the next 6-7 years.