HPI: 51% increase in Slovak patient co-payment level between 2005 and 2009

2010-03-05

The level of patient co-payment for reimbursable medicines increased by 51% between 2005 and 2009 in Slovakia, according to the healthcare think-tank the Health Policy Institute (HPI), which has analysed data from the National Centre for Healthcare Information.
According to the HPI, the total amount paid by patients in form of co-payments for reimbursable medicines in 2005 came to SKK 3.1bn (€102.9m), whereas in 2009 the figure was SKK 4.7bn (€156m). This means that in 2005 patients contributed SKK 36.4 (€1.21) on average to the cost of one packet of medicine, whereas in 2009, the average co-payment level per packet was SKK 50 (€1.66). The increase in co-payment levels for medical aids was even more substantial: 79% (from SKK 56.1m or €1.86m in 2005 to SKK 100.3m or €3.32m in 2009). The HPI also claims that co-payment levels for dietary supplements covered by obligatory health insurance during the same period increased sixfold.
The HPI claims that the 2009 data was based on conservative estimates, as the numbers from the last quarter have not yet been made available, but this is exactly when more medicine is consumed than at any other time during the year. The Slovak Health Ministry denies that there has been an increase in co-payment. The ministry claims that – on the contrary – the price index of medicines prescribed in 2009 fell significantly. It also argued that the data range analysed by the HPI also includes OTC products, which influenced price levels during the period in question.