Ban on medicine exports extended and expanded: What you need to know

The outgoing Minister of Health, Assoc. Silvi Kirilov, issued an order to extend the ban on the export of certain medicines and introduce new restrictions. The ban, published on the Ministry's website, comes into effect on January 24th and will continue until March 24th, 2026.

What is prohibited for export?

• Insulins and analogs: The ban's term is extended (the initial ban was in November 2023).
• Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors
• Blood sugar lowering medicines (excluding insulins) - including Semaglutide.
• Antibacterial medicinal products: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin and Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (in certain forms).
• Aminosalicylic acid and similar agents: Mesalazine.
• Medicines for bone structure and mineralization: Denosumab.
• Other anti-anemic preparations:

Reasons for the ban:

Information was requested from the Executive Agency for Medicines (EAM) and the regional health inspections to analyze the availability of medications for diabetes, anti-infective drugs, medicines for chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, osteoporosis, and anemia. The analysis showed difficulties in supplying pharmacies and patients with these medicines, due to delivery refusals, an increased number of those in need, irregular deliveries, and refusals from wholesalers.

Objective:

Ensuring the necessary medications for the Bulgarian pharmaceutical market.