Ministry of Health: Foster will be available from pharmacies with prescription co-payment from this month

The Ministry of Health announced changes affecting how the drug Foster will be dispensed from pharmacies. The company that holds the marketing authorization for Foster — a medicine listed on the Positive List — informed the ministry that adjustments were made "in the interest of patients" who use the product.

Access through pharmacies with prescription co-payment

"Starting this month, insured persons will again be able to collect the medicine from pharmacies without an extra charge, i.e., only by paying the legally determined co-payment for the prescription service. That also applies to other medicines that contain the same active ingredients and are used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)," the Ministry of Health posted on Facebook.

The statement says the change applies not only to Foster itself but also to other products that contain identical active substances and are used for COPD treatment. Foster is included on the country's Positive List for reimbursed medicines.

Officials did not specify an exact calendar date in the ministry post; the measure is described as taking effect "starting this month." Patients and pharmacies are therefore advised to check prescription procedures and co-payment amounts at their local outlets.

The ministry framed the update as intended to reduce out-of-pocket costs for insured patients who require ongoing COPD medication, while continuing to apply the statutory co-payment for prescription services.

Photo: press material from the event