Some patients affected with various types of cancer are forced to provide themselves with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda - Pembrolizumab. This medicine, which is part of the list of essential medicines, is given free of charge in Kosovo only to patients affected by lung and skin cancer.

This was determined by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with the update of the list of essential drugs in 2023.

The ministry justifies this decision by saying that the World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed Pembrolizumab as effective only for one type of cancer. 

But, from this ministry, they also say that the budgetary possibilities limit the free provision - for any type of cancer - of this medication.

Even the director of the Oncology Clinic, Ilir Kurtishi, admits that from the last revision made for the list of essential drugs, it has been decided that Pembrolizumab is given only to patients diagnosed with lung and skin cancer.

Kurtishi says that other patients affected by other types of cancer to whom this drug is prescribed by oncology specialists, should provide this drug.

This difference is considered discrimination and violation of human rights.

Valentina Demolli from the Council for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, tells KosovaPress that the citizens of Kosovo have the right to receive treatment according to their needs.

Even the member of the Parliamentary Committee for Health and Social Welfare, Bekim Haxhiu, considers these differences discriminatory.

In Kosovo, the application of immunotherapy against cancer has started in 2021. It is a treatment of the disease through substances that stimulate the immune response.

According to the Oncology Clinic, over 1 new cases of cancer have been identified in Kosovo this year alone./B.Ibishi

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