The discussion surrounding the call for existing market products became more relevant than ever at the Thieme event, as the first findings of the Health Working Group on precisely this topic were released. While it was announced at the beginning of November that the call for existing market products of medicines essential for patient care would be discontinued – this is one option provided for in the relevant Section 35a Paragraph 6 of the German Social Code, Book V (SGB V). The call for competition was to remain in effect. However, the negotiators of this working group have now agreed to terminate the entire call for existing market products.
Josef Hecken made it clear that he was revealing no secret to the participants when he said he viewed the coalition's outcome not as disheartening, but rather as a "gratifying result," "because it corresponds to what I've actually been saying across the country for the past six months." He emphasized that he wasn't expressing this opinion to do Mr. Fahrenkamp from the BPI or Ms. Fischer from the vfa any favors. Instead, he saw legal problems with the existing market survey. And he had also feared "extremely negative consequences for the reality of healthcare provision in Germany.".
This would bring a second question into play in his considerations – namely, the question of the evaluation procedure. „How can it be possible, according to the criteria of current evidence standards, to…”

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