Reform to assess drug prices was carried out defectively, PAS Center

An analysis by the Center for Health Policy and Studies (PAS) published in the Health Monitor shows the Government's reform aimed at improving access to medications was implemented defectively. According to the authors of the analysis, the initiative to introduce the producer prices in the National Catalog of Prices was put into practice without thoroughly assessing the relevance of this mechanism used in other countries, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Center's experts say that in order to avoid cases when the assortment of drugs is reduced or modified, medications of prime importance disappear or when the number of registered producers decreases and the competition is limited, the authorities should improve the regulatory instruments and try to avoid similar risks in the future. The Health Monitor says that among the best solutions that can prevent such risks are the registration of the producer prices first of all for the drugs compensated by the National Health Insurance Company and then for the essential medications. So as to improve people's access to drugs, the authorities should also impose differentiated VAT rates and profit margin and extend the list of compensated drugs designed for the treatment of diseases with impact on public health. The Center for Health Policy and Studies is a nongovernmental organization that aims to contribute to building a democratic society by developing the social and health sectors, promoting and assessing policies, strengthening the capacities and supporting the reforms.