Rösler wants to protect the pharmaceutical lobby

Healthcare reform: Rösler wants to protect pharmaceutical lobby.

(06.09.2010) The original statements of the Federal Minister of Health Philip Rösler on the reform of the health system, could expect hard cuts also for the pharmaceutical manufacturers. But now at least the pharmaceutical importers are spared the savings plans, like the „Southgerman newspaper“ on Saturday, citing a letter from the Federal Ministry of Health to prepare the meeting of health experts from CDU / CSU and FDP.

Since importers of cheap medicines should not be adversely affected by the reform of the health system, the higher compulsory rebates of the health insurances will not apply to them, as suggested by the Minister of Health. It still applies only six percent compulsory rebate instead of 16 percent as the German pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Since it became known that the pharmaceutical industry should also make its contribution to reform, the Association of Importers of Imports (VAD) is vehemently protesting against the planned increase in the compulsory rebate. According to the association, around 80 percent of the approximately 40 pharmaceutical importers would have to close at the introduction of the higher compulsory rebate, which would endanger more than 4,000 jobs.

The pressure had an effect and so the letter that has now become known no longer provides for a corresponding increase in compulsory discounts for drug importers. However, the Ministry of Health plans, according to the „South German daily paper“ to make the importers contribute their costs in other ways. For example, pharmacies that had previously imported drugs were given preference only when the savings amounted to at least 15 percent or 15 euros. In the future, the savings should amount to at least 15 percent or 60, - Euro, which would reduce the costs to a similar extent as with increased compulsory rebate.

Drug importers exploit price differences in the European market and, for example, buy cheap medicines abroad, which they can then continue to sell in Germany. The higher the price difference the greater the profit. (Fp)