The panel for medicines at the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) has given its approval for the inclusion of the drug givinostat on the list of reimbursable medicines, Slobodna Dalmacija reports.
The decision is a significant step towards making therapy available to children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Croatia. According to Slobodna Dalmacija, this is the only therapy that can slow the progression of the disease.
The mother of one affected child told Slobodna Dalmacija that she was 'in tears of joy', describing the panel's opinion as 'a great relief'.
The panel's opinion is part of the process for adding the drug to the HZZO list. Once the process is complete, the therapy will become available to patients in Croatia at the expense of the mandatory health insurance scheme.
