A strong alarm for the general situation that has arisen in the management of rheumatological patients in the Tuscany Region. This is the one raised in a letter sent to the Governor of Tuscany Eugenio Giani and to the institutional and administrative leaders of the Region by ANMAR (National Association of Rheumatic Diseases ONLUS), ATMa.R. (Tuscany Association of Rheumatic Patients), GILS (Italian Group for the Fight against Scleroderma), SIR (Italian Society of Rheumatology SIR) and CAPIRE Observatory.
The Associations denounce first of all the failure to start the discussion table on rheumatological diseases: from 14 October to today, in fact, only two merely interlocutors meetings have been held. There are also new violations of the right to continuity of treatment and the supply of the drug indicated by the prescriber. “From October 2021 to date there have been communications to the General Managers of the Tuscan ASLs and drug departments at the ASLs themselves and at the AA.OO.UU aimed at obtaining the verification of the therapeutic plans”, denounce the Associations. With the aim of reducing pharmaceutical expenditure – the complaint continues -, the prescribers who indicated therapies based on biological drugs other than the three successful bidders were asked for motivational reports. The communications, however, contained references to rulings of the Council of State which would justify the generation of biosimilar drugs and, therefore, the switch – even multiple – towards lower cost therapies. On the other hand, no reference is made to the safety of care and the assisted person, to the protection of the patient’s health, to the right to continuity of care, to therapeutic appropriateness and to the autonomy of the doctor. On the contrary, there is the threat of “recovery” actions on the part of specialists who confirm the pharmacological indications at higher cost. “The problems have increased and we are faced with daily reports of damage to the health of the patients we represent. Delays in procurement, referrals to the specialist due to unavailability, inconvenient exceptions of motivational deficiencies for the use of drugs not awarded the tender “, the Associations write again.
The letter also denounces the dramatic situation of Prato, the second largest Tuscan city and above all for its commitment in the rheumatology field, where it risks closing the Rheumatology Department. “A department that moves twelve thousand contacts a year, recognized nationally for its commitment and attention to patients suffering from rheumatological diseases. Therefore, the therapies could soon be administered only in relation to the availability of places in competition with other patients such as oncological or neurological ones ”, denounces the letter. To find solutions to these numerous problems, the Associations: “ask that the establishment of the regional discussion table on rheumatological diseases, which is also foreseen by the motion recently approved in bicameral with unanimous vote of the political forces, be started without further delay”.