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Healthcare: Romania would shift to the lowest European price for drugs from July 1
Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu announced on Monday Romania would shift to the lowest European price for drugs from July 1, with the new prices being already known in the medicine sector.
"From July 1, Romania shifts to virtually the lowest European price, as it is normal, also considering the provisions and regulations of the minister's orders, as confirmed by the social-economic context Romania is seeing at present. The prices here cannot be similar to the prices in the countries with much stronger GDPs than Romania's. Talks were held with the European Commission as well, with all our international partners - the IMF, the EC -, with the producers' associations, the distributors' associations, the pharmacy chains so that we should ensure the distribution and have no shortcomings in supplying the drugs and in the patients' access to drugs", Baniciou told a news conference at Victoria Palace (the Govt's offices).
He explained that all prices are being posted on the Health Ministry's website at present, the hospitals and the Insurance Office are notified of the changes, and all the savings to be thus made will remain in the ministry's budget.
"Everything that we estimate to make in savings, after the discussion with the prime minister and the talks held with the Finances Ministry, will remain at the Health Ministry and will be part of the programme for the constant renewal of the subsidised medicine list. All the savings resulted from this project will reach the patients", Banicioiu underscored.