Due to the shortage of medicines, the German government has decided that manufacturers may increase the price of children’s medicines by up to 50 percent. This is hoped for better care – an expert warns that this could increase bottlenecks in Austria.
Social Security boss Peter Lehner described Germany’s advance as “European lack of solidarity”. However, he rules out that Germany now receives more medication than Austria, he explained in the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal” on Thursday. We have supply bottlenecks in Europe. You can solve this in the long term by bringing production back to Europe,” emphasizes Lehner.
Expert calls for control of export ban
“In the short term, a higher price makes a product unavailable.” However, it was clear “that any export ban, which may exist, must be controlled and enforced”, the chairman of the conference of social security institutions demanded that medicines for which a If there is a defect, it cannot be shipped from Austria to Germany or other countries. delivered.
Austria generally has a different system than Germany for medicines, “no cheapest price system”, explains Lehner. “Manufacturers have the ability to submit price increase requests. This happens all the time and 90 percent of us have approved it over the years.” Classic juices for children can be made in pharmacies. We are still waiting for the agreement of the Ministry of Health.”
WIFO expert warns of less supply in Austria
Klaus Friesenbichler of the Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), on the other hand, warned on ORF radio that “the market will eventually be bought up by the Germans” and that there will be less supply in Austria. “In general, a European solution would be desirable,” says the expert, who also works at the newly founded supply chain research institute “Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria” (ASCII).
The cabinet of the German government passed a draft law on Wednesday to better secure the supply of drugs. Certain pricing rules are being relaxed to avoid the loss of important medicines. In addition, European manufacturers will play a greater role. Germany is also planning requirements for stocks of several months as a safety buffer.
Source: Krone
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