Turkey
Reimbursement of anti-dementia drugs
The availability of medicines in general
The majority (about 75 percent) of drug purchases throughout the country are reimbursable through public sector agencies such as the Pension Fund, and the Social Insurance Agency. [1]
The availability of Alzheimer treatments in Europe
All four anti-dementia drugs are available in Turkey and are part of the reimbursement system. Patients must have a medical report showing that they have Alzheimer’s disease. These reports can only be given in clinical centres and by specialists, but once there is such a report other physicians can also prescribe. The Turkish system does not require any specific examinations to be carried out, nor does it impose upper or lower MMSE scores for reimbursement.
Finally, there are no restrictions for the reimbursement of people living alone or in nursing homes.
| Rivastigmine | Galantamine | Memantine |
||
| Reimbursement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Initial treatment decision | Specialist doctors | Specialist doctors | Specialist doctors | Specialist doctors |
| Continuing treatment decision | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Required examinations | None | None | None | None |
| MMSE limits | None | None | None | None |
| People living alone | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| People in nursing homes | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
[1] WHO, Pharmaceuticals in Turkey, accessed September 2006: Http://www.who.dk/pharmaceuticals/Topics/Overview/20020414_8
Last Updated: Mittwoch, 15. Juli 2009
