| Abstract [eng] |
Master thesis of Ugnė Jasmontaitė scientific supervisor doc. Dr. Indrė Trečiokienė.Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Title of thesis: Utilization of cancer medicines in Lithuania 2014-2024. Aim of the study: To analyze trends in the use of oncology drugs in Lithuania. Tasks of the research: 1. To determine how long it took for a drug to appear on the Lithuanian market after its approval by the EMA. 2. To find out how many oncology drugs approved by the EMA have not entered the Lithuanian market. 3. To compare how the availability of oncology drugs changed in Lithuania in 2014-2024. 4. To compare changes in the consumption of oncology drugs of different therapeutic classes in Lithuania in 2014-2024. Methods: A retrospective quantitative study was conducted to analyze the consumption of oncology medicines in Lithuania during the period 2014–2024. The study data were obtained from official, publicly available sources, including the State Medicines Control Agency (VVKT). Data were processed using Microsoft Excel software, applying Pivot tables and charts. Changes in the consumption of oncology medicines were evaluated in milligrams (mg) to reflect consumption trends in Lithuania over the study period. Results: The study revealed that, during the period of 2014–2024, a total of 213 medicinal products were registered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the majority of which were classified within the L01E, L01F, and L01X therapeutic classes. It was also found that only a proportion of these medicines became available on the Lithuanian market, with approximately 50% being included in the reimbursement system, while the remaining part was considered inaccessible to patients. The analysis demonstrated that the average time between EMA registration and inclusion in the reimbursement system in Lithuania was 1,191 days, indicating substantial delays in market access. These observed differences between EMA registration and actual availability to patients in Lithuania suggest that regulatory approval does not guarantee timely patient access. Furthermore, the analysis of oncology drug consumption trends during the study period revealed an overall increase in drug use; however, this growth was unevenly distributed across different ATC therapeutic classes. The most pronounced increase in consumption was observed in the L04A, L01B, and L01X classes, reflecting the growing implementation of innovative treatment approaches in clinical practice. The findings also indicate that national-level decision-making plays a significant role in determining both the availability and consumption of oncology medicines. Conclusions: 1. It was determined that the period from the registration of a medicinal product by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to its inclusion in the Lithuanian reimbursement system exceeded 1000 days. 2. It was determined that, during the period 2014–2024, half of the oncology medicines authorized by the European Medicines Agency were not available in Lithuania. 3. It was established that the availability of oncology medicines in Lithuania during 2014–2024 increased unevenly across different ATC therapeutic classes. 4. It was determined that the consumption of oncology medicines in Lithuania during 2014–2024 increased unevenly and differed significantly across ATC therapeutic classes. |
