Price watchdog criticizes excessive prices for generics
Published: Tuesday, Nov 19th 2024, 12:10
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In a comparison of 20 patent-expired and top-selling active ingredients from abroad, the price watchdog found that Swiss prices were significantly too high. The cheapest generics were more than twice as expensive as in the 15 countries compared.
Original medicines with expired patents cost on average only 62 percent of the Swiss price in the comparison countries, as price watchdog Stefan Meierhaus reported in his newsletter on Tuesday.
The cheapest generic drug was available abroad for 39% of the Swiss price, i.e. 61% cheaper. Even in the most expensive comparison country, Spain, the cheapest generic drug cost 27 percent less. In the United Kingdom, the average price was only 16% of the Swiss price.
Meierhans concludes from this year's price comparison and "the significantly inflated prices" that there is still considerable potential for savings in the healthcare sector. The results are similar to those of his price comparisons in previous years and most recently in 2021.
At the same time, it is clear that the measures taken to date are not sufficient. It is therefore calling for a new pricing mechanism based on a foreign price comparison, especially for generics and biosimilars.
In addition, there is a mandatory generics levy, the promotion of generics by removing approval hurdles and the prescription of active ingredients. Meierhans would also like to abolish the territorial principle. This would mean that basic insurance would pay for medicines obtained on prescription abroad if they are cheaper there.
©Keystone/SDA
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