Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday that Finance Minister Zdravko Maric and Health Minister Vili Beros would meet with drug wholesalers over the debt for drugs and that a certain amount would be paid in the days ahead.

Representatives of drug wholesalers, pharmacists and drug manufacturers warned last week that the supply of medicines could be restricted due to the 6.5 billion kuna debt, and the Medika company on Tuesday suspended deliveries to hospitals.

Visiting Osijek-Baranja County, Plenkovic told reporters this was a usual situation. “Every once in a while, when an important date is due, whether Christmas, Easter, or election day, wholesale drug suppliers unanimously start asking for the money they are due.”

“We’ll talk about it, the ministers of finance and health will meet with them and certain funds will be paid in the days ahead.”

Asked about the payment date, Plenkovic said the ministers would discuss it. “I’m not an accountant to talk with them about the exact payment date.”

CEO of Oktalpharma Ivan Klobucar supported Medika’s move and told N1 that the government, the Health Ministry, the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, and Minister Beros had been ignoring their appeals for a meeting for three months.

He said the situation was such that those responsible would see how difficult the situation was when “patients and others who are not at fault at all bear the brunt.” If someone urgently needs a medicine, they will not get it, he added.