In particular, in 2002, thanks to law 405 of 2001, the reimbursement price for off-patent drugs (so-called equivalent or generic) was introduced and the possibility of direct distribution of drugs by the Regions. In the same year, the Finance Act reduced the deductibility of costs for conventions and congresses from 40% to 20%. Between 2002 and 2003, there were two maneuvers on the price of medicines: the first envisaged a reduction of the 5% (effective 4.5%) on medicines reimbursable by the NHS, the second launched the revision of the Pharmaceutical Handbook. In 2004, a 'payback' maneuver was then necessary to break through the 2003 spending ceiling. And again, again in 2004, with two different laws, a 5% tax on medical-scientific information (excluding personnel costs) was introduced on the one hand, payable by industry, and on the other, an increase of 20% in the fees for marketing authorization of medicines.
2005 then saw a new revision of the Pharmaceutical Handbook, with the price cut of 300 packs. The 'Payback' was then extended until October 2005. At the end of the year, the price of drugs was reduced by 4.4% and a further discount of 1% was made on the ex-factory price corresponding to 0.6% of the retail price (including VAT). The latest maneuver, the one launched today by the Board of the Medicines Agency, which provides for a further, temporary cut in the price to the public of drugs, however dispensed or used by the NHS, from the current 4.4% to 5% and a revision of the Pharmaceutical Handbook, to make up for the breach of the 2005 spending ceiling and contain that of 2006.
