Türkiye to import essential medicines to address shortages, improve access

In an effort to improve access to essential medicines, Türkiye‘s Social Security Institution (SSI) will begin importing medications that are unavailable within the country.

This new initiative, proposed through a law introduced by the ruling AK Party, aims to eliminate shortages, particularly for life-saving drugs, and reduce the financial burden on patients.

Key points of new regulation include

• Exemption from procurement laws: SSI will be exempt from the Public Procurement Law for the import of specific medical products and services. This will help expedite the procurement process.
• Diversification of supply sources: By expanding the range of suppliers, the law encourages competition, which is expected to lower costs and benefit public health care.
• Streamlined distribution: Medicines imported under this program will be distributed to patients with approval from the Ministry of Health, improving accessibility.

This move is expected to enhance Türkiye’s health care system by ensuring that citizens have access to essential medications, particularly those that cannot be sourced locally.