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Advocacy

The voice of the VHL community in Serbia

The Association works systematically to improve treatment conditions and the quality of life of patients with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, through dialogue with the Ministry of Health, the RFZO (National Health Insurance Fund), medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.

Our priorities

Three key advocacy points

Priority 1

Access to belzutifan (HIF-2α inhibitor)

The drug is registered in the USA and the EU, but it is not yet available in Serbia and there is no donation program. We advocate for this targeted therapy to become available to patients in Serbia.

Priority 2

A national registry of VHL patients

A centralized registry helps with better healthcare planning, statistics, and faster communication to patients about new therapies.

Priority 3

Formal surveillance protocols

There are still no official surveillance protocols for VHL patients in Serbia. We work with physicians and institutions to establish them.

Belzutifan in Serbia

Timeline

Belzutifan (Welireg, manufactured by MSD) is an oral HIF-2α inhibitor, the first targeted drug approved specifically for VHL syndrome.

  1. 2021

    FDA approval (USA)

    The first official approval of belzutifan (Welireg) for VHL patients with compatible tumors.

  2. 2023

    EMA approval (EU)

    The European Medicines Agency approved belzutifan for use in EU countries.

  3. Now

    Status in Serbia

    The drug is not available; there is no donation program and no reimbursement from the RFZO (National Health Insurance Fund).

  4. Goal

    Access for Serbian patients

    Our primary task, pursued through dialogue with the Ministry of Health, the RFZO, and the manufacturer.

Access mechanisms around the world vary: in the USA the drug is covered through insurance (Medicare, private), while in EU countries there is centralized reimbursement or a named-patient program. In Serbia, for now, none of these mechanisms is active, which means that patients have no access to the drug, either through the healthcare system or through a manufacturer's donation.

For institutions, media, and pharmaceutical companies

We are open to dialogue with everyone who can help improve treatment conditions for VHL patients in Serbia. Contact us directly.