“Every billion in funding less,” he says Massimo Scaccabarozzi, president of Farmindustria, «is worth 150 million paybacks. Not to mention the technical cuts, the masked ones. Behind, for example, a revision of the handbook made in an economic key and not, as it should, on a scientific basis". It is a question of "going to see where the real waste is, which is probably in the 85% of health expenditure, and not in the 15% of pharmaceuticals".
While the government is trying to secure the 2.35 billion cuts to the health fund "starting from 2015" by inserting them in the draft decree law on local authorities, which should be in the council of ministers today, and while the state and regions - some , you recently went to the elections - they are still looking for an agreement on how to decline them, a new appeal comes from the drug industries not to hit pharmaceuticals: "Every billion in funding less" he says Massimo Scaccabarozzi, president of Farmindustria, on the sidelines of the 55th AFI symposium, which closed yesterday in Rimini, «is worth 150 million paybacks. Not to mention the technical cuts, the masked ones. Behind, for example, a revision of the handbook made in an economic key and not, as it should, on a scientific basis".
The point is simple: «Not even a year ago we had a meeting with the government, in which we were promised stability. We brought results, even before the end of the year: we invested, we hired, even before the jobs act, so much so that we were recognized, after the automotive sector, as the sector that drove the country's growth, thanks to the production and to export. But the problem, as I said, is on the internal market, where, to give an example, the level of hospital pharmaceutical expenditure is already worth 500-600 million a year and can weigh on the individual company from 50 to 80 million».
For this reason, «I hope that the regions will retrace their steps: the Government has asked to put the budgets in order, to create savings, but pharmaceuticals cannot always be made to pay a part that pharmaceuticals are not entitled to. Also because this item barely represents the 15% of health expenditure while it will suffer, if the hypotheses circulated are then confirmed, cuts well in excess of the 30%. It is clear that the accounts do not add up. And they aren't even linear cuts» jokes Scaccabarozzi «because otherwise they would be proportional.
And look, just by cutting the fund, we are already penalized by 300-350 million. But be careful: in other markets a definancing simply means fewer opportunities, in our sector the cut in the fund immediately translates into pay back, in cash. The regions must understand that the industries can no longer pay back, otherwise there could be damage and it would mean having given precise indications to an industrial sector".
A threat? "A consequence. The Regions must choose for the good of the country and behind every decision there are consequences: I hope they are not negative, given that our sector has brought a lot of positivity to the country in this moment of positivity". It is therefore a question of "going to see where the real waste is, which is probably in the 85% of health expenditure, and not in the 15% of pharmaceuticals". But also "think of different governance systems".
Francesca Giani – Friday, 12 June 2015 – Doctor33
Assobiomedica, Luigi Boggio elected president: disastrous payback rule for NHS
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The national health system must learn to recognize technological innovation as a fundamental element for the protection of citizens' health. The quality of health services and the high economic and social value contained in medical devices must be firmly defended against those who want to introduce rules, such as that of payback, which would be disastrous for our National Health Service, drastically lowering its level of efficiency".
These are the guidelines drawn up by the newly elected President of Assobiomedica, Louis Boggio, who will be at the helm of the Confindustria association which represents the manufacturers and distributors of medical devices for the next two years. "We will therefore oppose all policies that go towards the dismantling of our health care to the detriment of the quality and appropriateness of prevention and treatment intended for citizens," added Boggio. «A change of course is needed» continues the president of Assobiomedica «which leads to a real restructuring of the health system and which puts an end to the persistence towards spending the 5.1% on medical devices.
Scientific societies as well as patient associations have learned to recognize and appreciate the value and quality of medical technologies, now it is important that central and regional institutions also achieve this awareness by developing policies that look to the future, conceiving the health service and the health supply chain as strategic assets on which to focus to make our health care competitive and attractive. Assobiomedica is ready to make its contribution as a technological partner of the health system to find sustainable and at the same time innovative and cutting-edge solutions with the Government and the regions» he concluded.
