The prices of the equivalents aligned with the European average with the aim of an annual saving of 600 million euros. Yesterday evening, the Board of AIFA approved the provision for the application of the rules envisaged in the economic package of July 2010.
31 MAR – “Starting from the year 2011, for the supply at the expense of the National Health Service of equivalent medicines referred to in article 7, paragraph 1, of the decree-law of 18 September 2001, n. 347, converted, with amendments, by law 16 November 2001, n. 405, and subsequent amendments, placed in class A for the purposes of reimbursement, AIFA, on the basis of a survey of the prices in force in the countries of the European Union, sets a maximum reimbursement price per package, with the same active ingredient, of dosage, pharmaceutical form, mode of release and dosage units. The dispensing by pharmacists of medicines having the same characteristics and a higher retail price than the reimbursement price is possible upon payment by the patient of the difference between the sale price and the reimbursement price. The maximum reimbursement prices are established in an amount suitable to achieve an expense saving of not less than 600 million euros per year which remain in the regional availability ".
Thus recites paragraph 9 of article 11 of law 122 of 30 July 2010 which has now found application with the resolution approved yesterday evening by the Aifa board of directors.
The text of the resolution is not yet known but according to what was reported this morning by the Sole 24 Ore, the savings obtainable would be even higher than those envisaged in the July budget package.
In fact, the newspaper speaks of over 830 million per year with effects for 625 million euros already in 2011. The generic drugs affected by the measure would be 4,188 with price cuts that could go up to 40%, excluding drugs with prices up to 2 euros.
March 31, 2011 – Dailyhealthcare.it
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