Doctors hesitant about new drugs?

Doctors too hesitant with new drugs?

09/17/2014

For some years now, new drugs have had to be evaluated in Germany in which they have to demonstrate their added value compared to already approved drugs. The pharmaceutical manufacturers are now criticized that doctors would rarely resort to more modern medicines.

Even with added benefits new drugs are used little
According to one study, patients with chronic diseases are under-treated with new, innovative medicines. This is reported by the „Focus“ in a recent article. Accordingly, the head of the IGES Institute, Bertram Häussler, explained that these drugs would be difficult to find in everyday practice, although an added benefit compared to conventional preparations has been demonstrated. According to the „Pharmaceutical Atlas“, On behalf of the Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (vfa), it emerges that such drugs are rarely used even if the Joint Federal Committee of Physicians, Health Insurance Funds and Clinics has confirmed a significant added benefit.

New drugs are being tested for added value
An example that is mentioned is the active ingredient crizotinib, which is used only in 31 percent of people with lung cancer. In addition, only 21 percent of those affected would benefit from a drug designed to fight skin cancer cells that form metastases. For other drugs, it is even less than ten percent. Since 2011, when the Pharmaceutical Market Reorganization Act (AMNOG) came into force, new drugs have to undergo a benefit assessment when they first enter the market. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) examines the product for added benefit.

Healing options not fully exhausted
If such an extra benefit is recognized, the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) and the pharmaceutical company negotiate a price for the drug. Birgit Fischer, chief executive of the vfa, criticized the fact that the medicines were used only hesitantly by the doctors in everyday life, also because of the drug agreements with the health insurances. Thus, the healing possibilities would not be fully utilized. Loud „Focus“ she criticized: „Innovations do not reach the care practice as it should be.“ In addition, the law on pricing (AMNOG) urgently needs to be improved and deregulated.

Germany is not a high-price country for medicines
Furthermore, the report showed that prices for most medicines in Germany are now below the European average. For some products, the German price is even the cheapest in a country comparison. Thus, Germany could no longer be described as a high-price country for medicines, Fischer said. Among other things, the policy with the drug market reorganization law wanted to get the comparatively high drug prices particularly in Germany under control. Manufacturers are no longer allowed to set the prices for their products since the introduction of the AMNOG, but must negotiate with the health insurance companies about it. (Ad)