A wide variety of both prescription drugs and over the counter medicines fluctuates violently in price. This year alone, more than 1000 drugs increased by 100 percent or more in price in the Danish pharmacies.
the Danish newspaper Berlingske, who has prepared an analysis of the price changes in the pharmacists ‘ retail price.
From september 2014 to today is 284 medicines increased more than 500 percent in price from one day to the other. 19 preparations increased by over 2000 percent.
It is serious, believes Morten Freil, director in the Danish Patients.
– ultimately, this may mean that some patients do not buy the medicine they need, and it can have fatal consequences. So there must be done something about the price fluctuations, as the patients are experiencing.
– We have basically a good system, which ensures us good prices, but something has to be done by the side effects of the model, says Morten Freil to the news agency Ritzau.
each producer sets the price of the drugs sold through pharmacies.
Every other week there auktionsrunder, where the pharmaceutical companies tell the Danish medicines agency, what price they want to sell every preparation for.
The cheapest win as the right to be recommended by pharmacists, and the winner gets 70 percent of sales, until the next auction takes place.
the Model ensures that the danes are among those in Europe who have the lowest prices on apotekermedicin. However, there may be major price increases when, for example, there is a shortage of medicine in some places in the world.
While some drugs have taken huge price spikes since 2014, has by far the most, however, remained stable pricewise. In 77,4% of the cases, the price remained constant compared to the previous 14 days.
the Danish Competition and Consumer authority has, according to the head of department Louise Kastfelt focus on the topic.
the Agency believes that the model should be changed, so the manufacturers can not see what the other offers in with of prices. Instead, it should only be vinderprisen, published, believe it.
health Minister Magnus Heunicke (S) want a price ceiling to protect patients from big price increases on the medicine.
– It is an expression of a failure in the market, when we see big price spikes so frequently. It can neither be explained or defended, and creates a great concern among the patients, he says to Berlingske.
the Minister would prefer to get a voluntary agreement with the producers of generic medicine, which is providers to pharmacies, to lower the list prices. It becomes necessary, can be introduced by means of legislation.
See also: Danish pharmacies during dry: No more treatment for scabies
See also: the It system may have led to thousands of medicinfejl
