Bulgarian patients overcharged for Novo Nordisk insulin
2010-02-17
About 500,000 insulin-dependent diabetes patients in Bulgaria have to pay approximately BGN 4.80 (€2.50) for one packet of five doses of insulin offered by
Novo Nordisk. Officially, the insulin is fully reimbursed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), but in 2009 the NHIF introduced a new rule which stipulates that insulin products are reimbursed only at the price level of the cheapest equivalent medicine. Patients have, therefore, to cover the difference in the price of the insulin manufactured by Novo Nordisk. The NHIF have advised diabetes patients who cannot afford the top-up payment for Novo Nordisk insulin that they should opt for a cheaper alternative. Albena Zlatareva, the NHIF’s deputy director, explained that 25% of NHIF funds are for insulin reimbursement and that the cost-saving measures are essential to control budget spending.
As we reported in
Central Europe Pharma News on a previous occasion, in mid-2009 Novo Nordisk found itself in a dispute with the NHIF about the new regulations which govern insulin reimbursement and threatened to withdraw its product from the Bulgarian market.
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