REMIFENTANIL TO BE USED IN MEDICINE UNDER STRICT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

SARAJEVO, APRIL 8 /SRNA/ – The Commission for Combating Drug Abuse in BiH has agreed to move remifentanil from the category of fully prohibited substances into the group of substances subject to strict control.

This removes a key obstacle to the medical use of remifentanil while maintaining all prescribed oversight measures in accordance with the applicable legislation regulating narcotics control in BiH, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Council of Ministers said in a statement. Remifentanil is a powerful, short-acting opioid analgesic used in anesthesiology for highly precise pain control. Due to its extremely rapid onset and cessation of action, it is particularly useful in complex anesthesiological procedures, including cardiac and neuro-anesthesia, where it enables dynamic and precise pain management tailored to the patient's needs. The Minister of Civil Affairs in the Council of Ministers Dubravka Bošnjak, who chairs the commission, said that removing the key obstacle to the medical use of remifentanil under strict supervision raises the standard of safety and quality of healthcare. She noted that remifentanil has long been present in clinical practice in EU member states as a strictly controlled drug used in anesthesiology in hospital settings and under a special supervision regime. The Ministry explained that, on its proposal, the Council of Ministers recently adopted amendments to the List of Narcotic Drugs, removing the primary legal obstacle to the medical use of cannabis, with clearly defined restrictions to pharmaceutical preparations and use based on a doctor's prescription. Also, after a 14-year delay in updating the List of Narcotic Drugs, the Commission agreed on additions including the inclusion of 112 new psychoactive and psychotropic substances, in line with the official lists of the International Narcotics Control Board /INCB/. These are substances that carry a high risk of overdose, acute intoxication, amnesia and respiratory depression. Their inclusion enables lawful control and prevention of illegal distribution, as well as a clear legal basis for sanctions.