Patients cannot access their medicine
News Center
Cystic fibrosis, a lung disease seen in one in every 3,000 births, can be diagnosed early through a heel prick test. While a medication reimbursed by the Social Security Institution ( SGK ) this year may be beneficial in treating the disease, reimbursement issues can lead to treatment delays. The Turkish Thoracic Society has called on authorities to take precautions.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS IMPORTANTOn September 8th, Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ezgi Demirdöğen, Secretary General of the Central Executive Board of the Turkish Thoracic Society, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment methods for the disease, stating that cystic fibrosis is a serious, genetically transmitted, lifelong disease that can affect many different systems, especially the lungs.
Demirdöğen summarized his findings as follows: "This disease causes the body's secretions to become thicker and more viscous than normal. These thick secretions accumulate, particularly in the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system, disrupting organ function. The most common symptoms are persistent cough, frequent lung infections, growth retardation, fatty stools, and failure to gain weight. In Türkiye, heel prick blood screening of newborns allows for the early detection of cystic fibrosis."
Dr. Gökçen Kartal Öztürk, a member of the Turkish Thoracic Society's Pediatric Chest Diseases Working Group Executive Board, noted the following: "In June 2025, the Social Security Institution (SGK) reimbursed a modulator drug that is genetically suitable for a large portion of cystic fibrosis patients. These drugs, which target the genetic disorder, improve respiratory function, reduce the frequency of infections, and significantly improve overall health. Problems with the SGK Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT) reimbursement conditions are causing difficulties in obtaining medication. Therefore, reimbursement conditions should be revised to take current issues into account."
∗∗∗
Heel Blood Saves LivesDr. Öztürk emphasized the importance of the heel prick test, saying, "Raising awareness among families, providing awareness training to teachers, and providing supportive environments for children are vital. It's also crucial that our patients adhere to their regular follow-up and treatment. With the inclusion of modulatory treatments within the scope of reimbursement, we are entering a new era in the fight against the disease. We hope this development will be a beacon of hope for all individuals with cystic fibrosis and their families."
BirGün
