June 18, 2026 at – 9:52 p.m.
The Social Security Institute (IPS) issued a statement to stop the alarm of cancer patients, who came to the fore after the announcement of the elimination of medications from the pension Vademecum. They assure that the measure affects only laboratory materials from the Quality Control Department and does not subtract medications for patients or eliminate treatments.
He Social Security Institute (IPS) issued a statement to try to stop the alarm among its insured. The forecast clarified that the recent exclusion of certain “primary patterns” does not imply the medication disposal intended for the insured nor will it affect ongoing treatments.
According to the official statement of the institution, these primary patterns are, in reality, high purity reference substances which is used exclusively by the Quality Control Department to carry out analytical tests and verify that the batches of drugs purchased meet safety standards.
Read more: IPS eliminates medications from the formulary: why the “purification” is carried out
“These materials do NOT constitute medications intended for patients. nor are they part of the prescribed treatments,” the pension emphasized.
A technical clarification amid the sharp cut
The reaction of the IPS occurs after the scandal broke out over the elimination of 939 items from its official list. The pension had presented this great purge as a administrative adjustment necessary to clean up social security finances and stop buying “the holy button.” However, the technical explanation about the “primary patterns” seeks to separate the internal management of laboratories from the actual provision in pharmacies.
“The exclusion of certain primary patterns does not imply the elimination of medications from the Institutional Vademecumnor the suspension of treatments, nor the loss of access of the insured to the corresponding drugs. The measure is limited to the technical field and administrative of the Quality Control Department,” reads the pension release.
Patients remain on alert
The Association of Oncology Patients of the IPS (APODIPS) Take this measure with caution. The original plan approved last Tuesday by the Board of Directors breaks down the cut 916 items officially cataloged by the IPS under the label of “inputs” and 23 items specifically identified as “medicines”.
Read more: IPS cuts formulary: they denounce exclusion of 99 oncological drugs
According to the preliminary analysis that made by cancer patients themselveswithin the gigantic batch of “inputs” were actually camouflaged at least 99 highly complex oncological medications and life support.
The concern of chronic and oncological patients focuses on the possible disappearance of biopharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies that save lives daily. Among the names on the lists Rituximab and Trastuzumabused essentially in therapies against different types of cancer. Adalimumab and Etanerceptprescribed for severe inflammatory and chronic conditions. Also Pegfilgrastim and Filgrastimcritical life support medications to raise patients’ defenses after chemotherapy sessions.
