Patients with low cholesterol asked for free medicines

Patients with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (dyslipidemia) in Russia are not allowed free medicines, the All-Russian Union of Patients (VSP) drew attention. In order to provide patients with this disease who belong to the group of people with extreme and very high cardiovascular risk, the patient organization proposes to include drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia in the federal project "Combating cardiovascular diseases". Currently, there are no drugs for patients with dyslipidemia in the document, they are not purchased from the federal budget.

According to VSP estimates, almost 4 billion rubles are required to provide drugs to 11.5 thousand patients with extreme cardiovascular risk, that is, those who have suffered two or more cardiovascular events within two years. And for the provision of medicines to almost 6 thousand patients with very high cardiovascular risk with familial hypercholesterolemia — almost 2 billion rubles more.

The list of patients for inclusion in the federal project is being formed by the Ministry of Health, said Andrey Fedorov, head of VSP projects. According to him, the ministry has included in it the most critical conditions in terms of mortality.

"In order to receive therapy under the federal project, the patient must be under medical supervision, that is, undergo an acute event or surgery," he added.

In Russia, according to the patient organization, lipid metabolism disorders (dyslipidemia), which underlie the progression of atherosclerosis, occupy the leading positions in terms of the contribution to mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

"Patients with this disease are now outside the perimeter of preferential drug provision within the framework of the federal project," they noted.

The solution to this problem, the VSP emphasized, is especially important for achieving the goals of increasing life expectancy.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Groan from the heart: free medicines are being asked for patients with low cholesterol