The Government will proceed with the «controlled increase» in the price of cheaper medicines, with the aim of avoiding disruptions, the Ministry of Health advanced this Wednesday, January 18. The decision is offset by the reduction in the price of more expensive drugs.
Medicines with a retail price (PVP) of up to 10 euros will be updated by 5% and those priced between 10 and 15 euros will be updated by 2%.
As for medicines priced above 15 euros, their price will be revised by comparison with the average of the four reference countries (Spain, France, Italy and Slovenia). In this case, and whenever the price is above the average, there will be a reduction of up to a maximum of 5%.
«Considering the volume of medicines sold in Portugal in 2022, these measures, to be applied during the 10 months that run until the end of the year, may generate an increase in expenditure by the State by around 0,4% and by share of citizens, in global terms, of about 0,5%, well below inflation values», says the Ministry in a note.
Additionally, two new mechanisms to protect people will be immediately developed: the creation of a list of essential, critical medicines, the availability of which will be monitored in a particular way and in relation to which specific measures will be taken, which may include exceptional price revisions, and the definition of the concept of overpriced medicine, by reference to the increase in sales volume and market share, which will lead to a reduction in the respective price later this year.
According to the Government, problems in the production and distribution of medicines have transversally affected European countries, with public reports of situations of unavailability of medicines, corresponding to cases in which it becomes more difficult to accommodate the effects of inflation and in which there is a risk that these products will be withdrawn from the market.
Although, in the overwhelming majority of cases, there are equivalent medicines that can be dispensed to patients, this situation can, according to the Ministry, «cause inconvenience to patients and health professionals, which is important to be careful about».
Thus, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Medicines Authority (Infarmed), and paying attention to the proposals of the various partners in the sector, updates the price of cheaper medicines, outside the usual Annual Price Review process.
This administrative increase in prices aims to "promote access to medication in Portugal, contributing in the medium term to lower costs for the SNS and for the Portuguese by preserving the sustainability of the cheapest products on the market, namely generics".
Comments