Czech patients to pay more for drugs?

2010-01-08

Czech patients may have to pay more for medicines, despite the obligatory 7% manufacturer price cut introduced by the state for reimbursable drugs. The Czech Chamber of Pharmacists has told the CTK news agency that, in order to make up for the cut, drug manufacturers are preparing to increase the prices of those medicines which are not regulated by the state. Price increases may also be apparent with regard to some reimbursable drugs, because, at present, manufacturers sell their products at prices which are lower than the maximum prices registered with the Czech State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL). Furthermore, patient co-payment levels may increase because of the 7% reduction in reimbursement levels which accompanies the obligatory price reduction.