In the first six months of 2006, pharmaceutical expenditure paid by the NHS recorded an increase of 10.8% compared to the same period in 2005, reaching 6,542 million euros. An analysis of the very first data for July 2006, collected by Federfarma, reveals a considerable slowdown in the growth trend of spending. The 'peak' was reached in May, with +14.8% compared to the same month in 2005 and +17.5% compared to April 2006. Spending then began to slow down in June, with an increase of 9% compared to the same month in 2005.
From January to June of this year, the State spent an average of 113.02 euros for each citizen. An increase linked to the increase in the number of prescriptions, +5.9% compared to January-June 2005, but also to the average expense per prescription (+4.6%). This figure is affected by the abolition, starting from 1 November 2005, of the 4.12% discount on the public price paid by the pharmaceutical industry. The measures in force since 15 January 2006 to make up for the 2005 overrun – i.e. the reduction in the prices of medicines paid by the NHS by 4.4% together with the 0.6% discount paid by the industry – do not appear to have led to cost containment effects equal to those produced, in 2005, by the 4.12% discount. The slowdown in growth recorded in July is linked to the effectiveness of the selective price cuts introduced by the Italian medicines agency on 15 July, the effects of which to contain expenditure will be seen in the second half of the year. The increase in expenditure recorded in the first 6 months of 2006 is generalized in all the Regions, with the exception of Bolzano, which scores -1.1% due to the limited increase in the number of recipes compared to the national average (+2.9%) and the sharp drop in the average value of the recipes themselves (-3.9%). In June, in Calabria alone, pharmaceutical expenditure grew by 20.1% compared to the same month of the previous year. Finally, the 'contribution' of pharmacies to containing spending. From January to June 2006, reports Federfarma, pharmacies ensured savings of over 340 million euros, compared with the approximately 40 million euros deriving from the 0.6% discount paid by the industries.
From January to June of this year, the State spent an average of 113.02 euros for each citizen. An increase linked to the increase in the number of prescriptions, +5.9% compared to January-June 2005, but also to the average expense per prescription (+4.6%). This figure is affected by the abolition, starting from 1 November 2005, of the 4.12% discount on the public price paid by the pharmaceutical industry. The measures in force since 15 January 2006 to make up for the 2005 overrun – i.e. the reduction in the prices of medicines paid by the NHS by 4.4% together with the 0.6% discount paid by the industry – do not appear to have led to cost containment effects equal to those produced, in 2005, by the 4.12% discount. The slowdown in growth recorded in July is linked to the effectiveness of the selective price cuts introduced by the Italian medicines agency on 15 July, the effects of which to contain expenditure will be seen in the second half of the year. The increase in expenditure recorded in the first 6 months of 2006 is generalized in all the Regions, with the exception of Bolzano, which scores -1.1% due to the limited increase in the number of recipes compared to the national average (+2.9%) and the sharp drop in the average value of the recipes themselves (-3.9%). In June, in Calabria alone, pharmaceutical expenditure grew by 20.1% compared to the same month of the previous year. Finally, the 'contribution' of pharmacies to containing spending. From January to June 2006, reports Federfarma, pharmacies ensured savings of over 340 million euros, compared with the approximately 40 million euros deriving from the 0.6% discount paid by the industries.
And again according to Federfarma, "pharmacies contribute improperly and unjustly to the containment of public spending also because they sustain the damage of the considerable delays with which some local health authorities reimburse medicines dispensed under the NHS regime: the most serious delays are recorded in Sicily and Calabria, while in Campania, Lazio and Molise procedures have been initiated for the securitization of receivables claimed by pharmacies from the Regions
From “farmacista33.it”.
