Increases in 850 medicines are included in the list of final proposed prices of 1,243 preparations published by the National Medicines Organization (EOF).
Indicatively, according to the data of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, based on the list published by EOF, in 445 preparations the increase will be from 1 to 99 cents, in 152 from 1 to 1.99 euros, in 90 from 2 to 2, 99 euros, in 50 preparations from 3 to 3.99 euros and in 59 preparations from 4 to 4.99 euros. The most extreme increase is of the order of 448% and is seen in a formulation whose retail price today is 0.96 and, according to the suggested retail price, will cost 5.26 euros. It should be noted that the new prices are expected to apply from autumn.
The consequences for patients
The drugs on the list are generally cheap and of all kinds (from serums and antibiotics to anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories, etc.). It is recalled that this is the final list proposed by the National Medicines Organization, which emerged after the processing of a list that had been put up for public consultation by the EOF on June 20 following the price adjustment requests submitted by the owners of pharmaceutical products.
According to those who know the state of the drug market, in Greece many preparations are sold at low prices, so that it is not financially beneficial for the pharmaceutical companies to market them in Greece. This usually resulted in either a shortage of the particular drug or the risk of it being withdrawn, with the result that the patient would be left unprotected in his treatment and forced to look for another drug (which is often more expensive), or be forced to procure it (again more expensive) through IFET.
The goal is rationalization
“The increases are aimed at streamlining the market,” the president of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, Apostolos Valtas, told “NEA”. “A drug that the company that produces it declares that it is financially unsustainable to remain on the Greek market should be supported with a reasonable increase, so that we can keep it on the Greek market, so that we do not have shortages and that they are not created problems in treating patients”.
Source: “Ta Nea” – Print Edition
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