Coronavirus: the FAMHP is taking measures to guarantee continuity of treatment for patients suffering from chronic illnesses

date: 18/03/2020

The FAMHP is closely monitoring stocks of medicinal products used in the fight against COVID-19. Certain of these medicinal products are essential to treat patients with chronic diseases (e.g. lupus, rhumatoid arthritis, HIV, etc.). The FAMHP is taking measures to guarantee the availability of these essential medicines.

Quarantining of essential medicinal products

In order to guarantee treatment for chronic patients, the FAMHP has quarantined all stocks of Plaquenil, chloroquine phosphate and Kaletra at the premises of wholesalers and wholesaler-distributors and pharmaceutical companies. Public pharmacies shall be free to accept medical prescriptions only in the context of the authorised indications for these chronic patients and not for COVID-19. The FAMHP has already informed pharmacies of this measure. Deliveries to hospital pharmacies are being maintained, with which to treat patients with COVID-19.

Limited prescription

For the treatment of COVID-19, the Belgian health institute, Sciensano, has recommended that general practitioners limit prescriptions of these essential medicinal products to reserve them for hospitals treating patients with serious cases of COVID-19.

Using the limited stocks of these medicinal products for unnecessary or unjustified preventive treatments endangers the availability of these medicinal products for patients who need them: chronic patients and hospitalised patients with serious cases of COVID-19.

The FAMHP is counting on everyone’s understanding and professionalism in order to be able to guarantee the availability of essential medicinal products for the patients who need them.

Last updated on 24/03/2020