The representatives of the drug factories in Romania ask the authorities for targeted measures and policies to encourage production, so that patients do not suffer. In this regard, the Minister of Finance announced a state aid scheme of over 500 million euros that would have a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry.
The measures debated in the conference organized by the Association of Generic Medicines Manufacturers were also supported by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. He drew attention to the fact that generic and biosimilar treatments represent 20% of the expenses of the Health Center for medicines.
Generic and biosimilar medicines have contributed significantly to budget optimization and have a potential that Romania does not capitalize on enough compared to other European states, such as Poland or Germany. Effective and low-cost generics and biosimilars are the key to treating more patients.
“Costs for innovative medicines represent 80% of the house’s expenses (CNAS no) and 20% of generic ones”, declared Marcel Ciolacu, the Prime Minister of Romania.
Romania has several dozen factories that only produce generic drugs. That is why Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu admits that investments are needed to support the production of medicines.
“At this moment they must be protected, we must not fall into the trap of limiting the additions even more than what we are doing now”, the prime minister also specified.
Moreover, the Minister of Finance announced new investments to support production in the pharmaceutical industry.
“We, at the government level, have initiated and approved by government decision a state aid scheme with a value of over 500 million euros, in which the production of pharmaceutical drugs and pharmaceutical activity is supported. From 10 million euros, minimum value, up to 100 million euros, so as soon as possible, I hope, sometime in May, beginning of June, we can open the call for projects”, announced Marcel Boloş, the Minister of Finance.
Generic and biological drugs are the therapeutic solution for most patients with chronic conditions. Especially since we are witnessing an aging process, and the need for treatments is increasing.
“It covers the whole range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, because many of the oncology drugs are generic drugs, and this must be very clear. Generic drugs are, or access to genetic drugs is a priority for the Ministry of Health and in general for the policy within the European Union”, explained Alexandru Rafila, Minister of Health.
“All the policies we hear discussed here, such as centralized auctions, blindbidding and so on, will only affect generic medication, where there is competition between several molecules. The savings will be or we will try to make savings from that 20 % not of the 80%. Only one factory is being built in Romania, I admit that we are the pioneers here”, said Mihai Fugarevici, General Director of STADA Romania.
The alarm signals as well as the measures promised by the authorities were launched during the conference “Sustainability and predictability of the health system – the role of generic and biosimilar medicines”, organized by the Association of Generic Medicine Manufacturers (APGMR).
