Ymeri calls for investigation into cancer patient’s death after therapy shortage

Janina Ymeri, a member of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has called on prosecutors to investigate the death of a cancer patient who, according to the “Renesansa” patients’ association, had gone around four months without the drug Palbociclib.

She criticized the Ministry of Health over the shortage of medication for patients with malignant diseases, while also expressing concern about the rise in new tumor cases and the number of deaths.

Commenting on the clarification issued by the Oncology Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK), Ymeri said that the description of Palbociclib’s role itself demonstrates the importance of this therapy in slowing the progression of the disease.

“The QKUK’s response makes it clear that new-generation drugs, including Palbociclib, are used as supportive therapy to slow the progression of the disease. This is precisely the crux of the matter: when the therapy is unavailable, this slowing cannot be achieved. I know the case, and it concerns a person who is facing the disease for the second time. Does it matter whether someone has been affected for the first or second time, or whether they have gone three or four months without pills?” Ymeri declared.

She also addressed the minister, saying that responsibility does not fall on him alone, as Albin Kurti is even more responsible. “I do not know how you sleep at night when someone is crying because they have cancer, while you are fixing a medal. Do you know that over the past six years, deaths in regional hospitals and at QKUK have increased by 30 percent? Have new tumor cases increased by more than 42 percent?” the lawmaker said.