Governments asks updating of medicine prices by March 10, 2015
Premier Victor Ponta asked health minister Nicolae Banicioiu to inform medicine producing companies that the request to update prices is based on the Romanians’ right to pay the same prices as the ones paid by other EU citizens. “Please explain that we are the last in EU and that Romanians are entitled to pay medicines at the same prices as other European citizens : Bulgarians, Hungarians, Germans and not 25% higher prices. I understand it will be a difficult struggle. The more you explain the easier we will win the battle,” Ponta said at a government meeting.
The Health Ministry asked all medicine suppliers to update all prices by March 10, 2015.
Thus the prices of medicines will have to be lower or at least equal to prices in 12 countries - Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Greece and Germany.
The Health Insurance National House showed that updated prices for medicines may reduce up to 20% certain products and the money difference could be used for the purchase of innovating treatments.
On the other hand, the Coalition of Organizations of Patients with Chronic Affections in Romania says that medicine prices should be lowered at the same time with implementing new protection mechanisms guaranteeing that products for Romania reach patients despite low prices.
The Romanian Association of International Medicine Producers says that the real price of medicines in Romania is 29% under the one displayed in the national catalogue of prices and new price drops will determine an increase of intra-community trade to the detriment of Romanian patients who will not find the medicines they need.
The Association says that prices of medicines in Romania is compared to those from other 12 European countries which have health policies and systems different from those in Romania.