Th. Trifon: The Greek pharmaceutical solution is in development - Commenting on the visit Tsipra
Οn the right direction are the statements of the Prime Minister on the medicine and the Greek pharmaceutical industry, as reported in Onmed.gr chairman of ECEC Mr. Theodore Tryphon. But what is crucial and must be treated immediately as mentioned, is the budget of the pharmaceutical expenditure is extremely low for 2015.
Just one day after the much talked about visit of Mr. Alexis Tsipras the Ministry of Health, the President of the institution of the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Th. Tryphon, in an interview Onmed.gr, commenting on statements by the Prime Minister talks about the next day industry criticizes the issue of active substance, proposing to introduce a dual system, since existing contributes to substitution and increased prescribing imported originals and generics, and proposes six measures to support the national drug policy.
Furthermore, as chairman of ECEC, commits the industry to maintain and expand its facilities in Greece, to cover 70% of primary health care in a cost and quality medicines help reduce the involvement of patients to drugs and to support their practice uninsured.
The full text of the interview is as follows:
Onmed.gr: How did you see the statements of the Prime Minister for medicine?
DPA .: I believe that the statements are clearly in the right direction. Revealed clearly the development dimension of the Greek Pharmaceutical and significant domestic value added generated Generation, Research and Exports of Greek Medicines. We hope that soon the announcement will translate into concrete measures. An important issue that must be resolved directly to the budget of the pharmaceutical expenditure is extremely low for 2015.
Onmed.gr: Much of the activity of the Greek Pharmaceutical Industry refers to the production of generics, a class of drugs, which has been enough reason in recent years. However, despite the fact that there is an increase in consumption, has increased its market share of domestically produced generics in our country. What are we doing wrong and what to do from here?
DPA .: Unfortunately so is obviously something is wrong. In fact, the Greek Drug - Generic with history and accumulated know-how 50 years, and significant contribution to GDP, employment and research remains anchored at a rate of around 18-20%. The reality is the result of incorrect policy followed in previous years in the field of medicine. It was specifically the measures that led to this result.
What to do from here is clear and specific. International experience has shown that the expanded use of generic occurs as the result of a conscious choice of doctor, a well-defined incentive pharmacist and acceptance - trust on the part of the patient.
A big issue so clearly affects the development of Greek generics is the way it works today, prescription by active substance. In the case of other in this measure, we are clearly in favor of a dual system, which will be based on the chemical name and the doctor's ability to propose trade name, especially when prescribing generics. Only in this way will prevent a 'prescription from the doctor unique active, ie much more costly imported medicines. The current system unfortunately contributes to the substitution of generic drugs patented originals, creating the incentive for the doctor not to prescribe generics. Also removes the identity of Greek generic is a brand name.
At the same time, the pharmacist should have and he clearly motivated and keeps the recipe in Greek generic and of course substitute domestically produced drug. In this context, the Greek Pharmaceutical promotes cooperation with the Greek pharmacist who trusts the Greek Medicine and has the potential to transmit it to the patient. In collaboration with the appropriate bodies (PFS), plan joint actions aimed at informing the public about the quality of Greek generic.
As domestic production of medicines emphasize again that the current framework for applying the active substance leads to an increase of imported prescription drugs, originals and generics. It is clear, therefore, that this measure has failed.
I want to emphasize that we are not asking law change. However, there is an urgent need to change the parameters for implementing specific interventions as follows:
• By ensuring the doctor's ability to propose and brand name, when it chooses to prescribe generics.
• By providing incentives to pharmacists for placing Greek generics. In this context, it is necessary to ensure positive profitability conditions, in order to avoid harmful situations for him.
• By ensuring reduced participation for patients, if they choose Greek generic.
• By informing the public about the quality of Greek medicine which circulate for 50 years in Greek households and has established itself in the minds of Greek patients, having won their confidence.
Onmed.gr: Who axes believe national pharmaceutical policy must be based from now on?
DPA .: Unfortunately, the fiscal consolidation that took place in previous years in medicine focused unilaterally reduce its expenditure through interventions on drug prices rather than in rationalizing their use. Certainly the launch of pharmaceutical expenditure at the highest levels of 2009 required the cutting. However, from the result proves that the accounting concept with which this expenditure was met, threatened pharmaceutical care sustainability, ignoring the real needs of patients.
It is clear then, that from now on will have to design a comprehensive drug policy focuses on:
1. The access and the low participation of insured drug
2. The immediate restoration of unsustainable budget for drugs currently in force, at a level which is close to the EU average per capita.
3. The implementation of the necessary reforms in order to control the consumption and prescription drugs.
4. The evaluation of the therapeutic value of expensive treatments in order to guarantee patient access to innovative treatments and really avoid unnecessary burdens both the insured and the insurance funds.
5. Strengthen the understaffed EOF, and the Directorate of Drug EOPYY.
6. The expanding use of accessible and quality Greek Medicines.
Onmed.gr: You So as Greek Pharmaceutical what you have to say to the Prime Minister?
DPA .: We commit ourselves clearly to increase investment in production, jobs, research and exports. We will keep and expand our facilities in Greece, Greece. We are committed to cover 70% of primary health care in a cost and quality drugs. We pledge to help reduce the involvement of patients to drugs produced by the Greek Pharmaceuticals. We commit ourselves to be helpers to cover the uninsured.
From our side we call a stable framework three years, a comprehensive drug policy that takes into account the development dimension of the Greek Pharmaceutical, secure payment, and thus the liquidity of Greek firms and a much more rational rebate system and clawback.
Just one day after the much talked about visit of Mr. Alexis Tsipras the Ministry of Health, the President of the institution of the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Th. Tryphon, in an interview Onmed.gr, commenting on statements by the Prime Minister talks about the next day industry criticizes the issue of active substance, proposing to introduce a dual system, since existing contributes to substitution and increased prescribing imported originals and generics, and proposes six measures to support the national drug policy.
Furthermore, as chairman of ECEC, commits the industry to maintain and expand its facilities in Greece, to cover 70% of primary health care in a cost and quality medicines help reduce the involvement of patients to drugs and to support their practice uninsured.
The full text of the interview is as follows:
Onmed.gr: How did you see the statements of the Prime Minister for medicine?
DPA .: I believe that the statements are clearly in the right direction. Revealed clearly the development dimension of the Greek Pharmaceutical and significant domestic value added generated Generation, Research and Exports of Greek Medicines. We hope that soon the announcement will translate into concrete measures. An important issue that must be resolved directly to the budget of the pharmaceutical expenditure is extremely low for 2015.
Onmed.gr: Much of the activity of the Greek Pharmaceutical Industry refers to the production of generics, a class of drugs, which has been enough reason in recent years. However, despite the fact that there is an increase in consumption, has increased its market share of domestically produced generics in our country. What are we doing wrong and what to do from here?
DPA .: Unfortunately so is obviously something is wrong. In fact, the Greek Drug - Generic with history and accumulated know-how 50 years, and significant contribution to GDP, employment and research remains anchored at a rate of around 18-20%. The reality is the result of incorrect policy followed in previous years in the field of medicine. It was specifically the measures that led to this result.
What to do from here is clear and specific. International experience has shown that the expanded use of generic occurs as the result of a conscious choice of doctor, a well-defined incentive pharmacist and acceptance - trust on the part of the patient.
A big issue so clearly affects the development of Greek generics is the way it works today, prescription by active substance. In the case of other in this measure, we are clearly in favor of a dual system, which will be based on the chemical name and the doctor's ability to propose trade name, especially when prescribing generics. Only in this way will prevent a 'prescription from the doctor unique active, ie much more costly imported medicines. The current system unfortunately contributes to the substitution of generic drugs patented originals, creating the incentive for the doctor not to prescribe generics. Also removes the identity of Greek generic is a brand name.
At the same time, the pharmacist should have and he clearly motivated and keeps the recipe in Greek generic and of course substitute domestically produced drug. In this context, the Greek Pharmaceutical promotes cooperation with the Greek pharmacist who trusts the Greek Medicine and has the potential to transmit it to the patient. In collaboration with the appropriate bodies (PFS), plan joint actions aimed at informing the public about the quality of Greek generic.
As domestic production of medicines emphasize again that the current framework for applying the active substance leads to an increase of imported prescription drugs, originals and generics. It is clear, therefore, that this measure has failed.
I want to emphasize that we are not asking law change. However, there is an urgent need to change the parameters for implementing specific interventions as follows:
• By ensuring the doctor's ability to propose and brand name, when it chooses to prescribe generics.
• By providing incentives to pharmacists for placing Greek generics. In this context, it is necessary to ensure positive profitability conditions, in order to avoid harmful situations for him.
• By ensuring reduced participation for patients, if they choose Greek generic.
• By informing the public about the quality of Greek medicine which circulate for 50 years in Greek households and has established itself in the minds of Greek patients, having won their confidence.
Onmed.gr: Who axes believe national pharmaceutical policy must be based from now on?
DPA .: Unfortunately, the fiscal consolidation that took place in previous years in medicine focused unilaterally reduce its expenditure through interventions on drug prices rather than in rationalizing their use. Certainly the launch of pharmaceutical expenditure at the highest levels of 2009 required the cutting. However, from the result proves that the accounting concept with which this expenditure was met, threatened pharmaceutical care sustainability, ignoring the real needs of patients.
It is clear then, that from now on will have to design a comprehensive drug policy focuses on:
1. The access and the low participation of insured drug
2. The immediate restoration of unsustainable budget for drugs currently in force, at a level which is close to the EU average per capita.
3. The implementation of the necessary reforms in order to control the consumption and prescription drugs.
4. The evaluation of the therapeutic value of expensive treatments in order to guarantee patient access to innovative treatments and really avoid unnecessary burdens both the insured and the insurance funds.
5. Strengthen the understaffed EOF, and the Directorate of Drug EOPYY.
6. The expanding use of accessible and quality Greek Medicines.
Onmed.gr: You So as Greek Pharmaceutical what you have to say to the Prime Minister?
DPA .: We commit ourselves clearly to increase investment in production, jobs, research and exports. We will keep and expand our facilities in Greece, Greece. We are committed to cover 70% of primary health care in a cost and quality drugs. We pledge to help reduce the involvement of patients to drugs produced by the Greek Pharmaceuticals. We commit ourselves to be helpers to cover the uninsured.
From our side we call a stable framework three years, a comprehensive drug policy that takes into account the development dimension of the Greek Pharmaceutical, secure payment, and thus the liquidity of Greek firms and a much more rational rebate system and clawback.