The Minister of Health, Dr. Venko Filipce, participated in the XIV National Conference on Breast Cancer, to mark the month for the fight against this disease.

Improving the availability of modern therapy and diagnostics for oncology patients in the Republic of Northern Macedonia, began in 2018 with a strategy for raising the health care of citizens, which was initiated by the Minister of Health Dr. Venko Filipce.

By solving the long-standing problem with the parallel import of drugs, now all patients with malignant diseases are sure to receive original therapy and therapy during which all measures of good distribution practice (cold chain, etc.) are observed.

- In the past four years we have provided wide availability of innovative therapy according to the high standards of the countries of the European Union. Over thirty new molecules that are not currently on the positive list of drugs are becoming available to citizens in need of treatment, especially for patients with severe chronic and oncological diseases. In the field of oncology, biological therapy has become available for cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as for breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma and others. Now, there is no longer a patient with breast cancer who is not provided with the highest quality, innovative biological therapy and the possibility of screening in several centers across the country. "Patients have the opportunity to be treated according to the latest recommendations of the European Association of Medical Oncologists from 2021, which is a great progress - said the Minister of Health.

Minister Filipce emphasized that innovative therapy for HER2 positive breast cancer, for early and metastatic disease has been procured. This therapy gives the best chance of cure and long-term remission to over 200 patients who have this very aggressive form of breast cancer.

- We have also provided a new subcutaneous formulation for patients battling HER2 positive breast cancer. These are more than 100 patients a year who can now receive therapy in just 5 minutes as opposed to intravenous infusions that last two hours or more. It is especially important that this is aimed at preventing and protecting this vulnerable category of patients in the current KOVID 19 pandemic. By combining effective targeted therapies and accurate diagnostics such as the currently available genetic analysis and comprehensive genomic profiling that we plan to introduce soon, we contribute to the advancement of the concept of personalized medicine. Our vision is to provide effective and safe therapy for patients according to their unique genomic profile. Every person is unique, that is why we strive for every person who fights cancer to receive the most appropriate treatment for his specific disease and thus get the best chance for cure and quality of life - said Minister Filipce at the Conference.