In Poland, the statutory margin for reimbursed drugs, which is too low, has not been changed for over ten years. The current wholesale costs - inflation, rising fuel prices, electricity and other expenses related to the storage and delivery of drugs - have become a challenge for the entire sector. The Ministry of Health met with industry representatives and announced changes in this regard.
Drug safety: it is necessary to change wholesale margins to reimbursed drugs
Published Aug. 11, 2022 11:03
In recent weeks, more and more has been said in the public space about the problems related to the shortage of drugs and medical devices in pharmacies. Patients, pharmacists, drug manufacturers and wholesalers inform about problems. - We are dealing with the beginning of the drug crisis, which could get even worse if corrective steps are not taken. Wholesalers that have been operating at a low margin for many years may be forced to reduce the frequency of deliveries to pharmacies to 2-3 days, which would result in a deterioration in the availability of drugs for patients, reads the announcement of the Polish Pharmacy Chamber of Commerce.
Drug safety of Poles should be a priority for all health care stakeholders. According to the declarations of the Ministry of Health, the change in the wholesale and pharmacy margin will be processed along with the new reimbursement act, the implementation of which is to take place in the near future. However, the Chamber points out that the volatility of issues in this act may delay the legislative process. The industry proposed to add margins to the acts already being processed. She also called for other most urgent changes to be included.
The "Polish Pharmacy" Chamber of Commerce has repeatedly raised the issue of the need for statutory changes in this area, calling for an urgent modification of the wholesale margin from 5% to 6%. This symbolic growth will allow the operations of pharmaceutical wholesalers in Poland to be maintained at the current level.
- I sincerely hope that it will be possible to quickly introduce systemic solutions that will guarantee the country's drug safety and improve the situation of wholesalers and the entire sector. On behalf of the "Farmacja Polska" Chamber of Commerce, I declare that I am fully ready to cooperate and work out the best solutions for each party - says Irena Rej, president of the "Farmacja Polska" Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Polish Pharmacy Chamber of Commerce
