Government backs price clampdown on drugs

The Czech government has signalled that it will push through a proposal to cut the prices paid and reimbursement offered for medical drugs. The government has suggested that a backbench member of parliament’s call to cut the prices paid for a range of drugs by 7.0 percent with a corresponding cut in the reimbursement paid by health insurers be supported. The proposal counts on costs of around a third of drugs whose prices have not undergone a price review by the State Institute for Drug Control. Eleven international drug companies have said that will start legal action against the Czech state for setting maximum prices for their products with around 20 more expected to join the action.

Author: Chris Johnstone