A blow from the Forza Italia regional councilor Stefano De Lillo
«That regional resolution on the prescribability of medicines with expired patents can expose the citizens of Lazio to a greater risk of mortality. Because the "state drug" does not have the same effectiveness as a more advanced one and legal actions could be determined in the future such as class action». A blow from Forza Italia regional councilor Stefano De Lillo who, meanwhile, announces his resignation as vice president of the health commission as a taste. But to support him against "an entirely economic drift" of Healthcare there is also the regional coordinator of the Italian Doctors Union, Cristina Patrizi who does not go as far as De Lillo's words, but in any case denies the attempt to "induce the choice of the drug through the lowest cost" and calls for "the immediate withdrawal of the resolution on which only another union of doctors has given a positive opinion". Which for the record is the Fimmg whose regional secretary Luigi Bartoletti reacts almost shocked: «Irresponsible and very serious statements, the resolution does not impose and demeans the freedom of prescription. Appropriateness checks already exist and are not being used as a threat. Indeed, the doctor remains free to choose the drug justified by therapeutic needs. Rather, the type of prescription is entrusted to his sensitivity and responsibility". Against Bartoletti the thesis supported by Cristina Patrizi: «We do not trade drugs nor can we keep in mind expired patents. But above all we don't want to modify therapies with effective drugs for reasons that have no scientific evidence". Francesco Giro, Roman coordinator of Forza Italia, insists: "We are for quality healthcare, which also pays attention to the quality of medicines: we say no to the use of super generic medicines". While De Lillo gives a more general dimension to his resignation: «No act of the deficit recovery plan was discussed, we asked to participate in the choices but were denied. And phantom resolutions like the last 12 passed at the end of the year are the answer». The one on drugs, in particular, has ended up in the crosshairs. It provides for savings of 45 million, but under the generic title "voluntary enhancement of the prescription" hides, according to Forza Italia, an attack "on the freedom of treatment". Citizens, says De Lillo, «for accountancy reasons can only be treated with older molecules. In essence, the state drug is established for 24 categories and it is the budget technicians who impose medicines with expired patents ». A choice, continues the blue councilor, "harmful, so President Marrazzo is putting the efficiency of the health service into crisis". Bartoletti doesn't agree: "Aifa is a guarantee, freedom of treatment is protected". But the other union of doctors, Sim, urges "to work on the appropriateness of prescriptions not in relation to the drug but to the cases and prescriptive data, inviting the ministry, the Regions and Aifa and companies to agree on a drug policy based on the requirements of effectiveness and cost". "We agree on the Clinical Audit, but what does the useless alarmism about medicines with expired patents have to do with it", replies the Fimmg secretary. Giro concludes: «They have imbued our brains with concertation, we would like at least dialogue». EPolis Rome of 15/01/2008 p. 21
