L’utilizzo di farmaci equivalenti, meno cari rispetto alle versioni ‘griffate’ a brevetto scaduto, non genera risparmi per i cittadini o per i sistemi sanitari nazionali, bensì solo per le farmacie. E’ quanto rileva un report della Catalan Autoritat of Competencia pubblicatodal quotidiano spagnolo ‘The Vanguard’.
The Catalan competition authority therefore points out that, while the retail price of these drugs is adjusted to the reference price established by the government, the discounts offered to pharmacies are around 40%. On the other hand, according to an editorial signed by Jaume Puig, professor of the Economics and Health Research Center of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona "the reference pricing system has been able to reduce the progressive increase in the cost of medicines for which there is a generic and, from this point of view, it has been positive. But competition in terms of the prices of drugs on sale to the public is very limited and explains the fact that some countries have implemented ad hoc reforms to improve the situation" .
Barbara Di Chiara – PharmaKronos – 15 December 2009 – N° 187 – year 3
