“We need a quality debate in drug supply!”

01.10.2012 12:49

With a view to the recently published drug regulation report, vfa general manager Birgit Fischer explains: "Drug consumption in Germany must be seen from two aspects: cost structure and quality of care."

In Fischer's opinion, the costs of medicines are currently under control, as the drug prescription report itself says. The second aspect, the quality of care, is ignored by the drug prescription report. Fischer: “But a constant discussion about driving down prices threatens to turn into a discussion about driving down the quality of care at some point. This is a dangerous development and it is ultimately further promoted by the methodical approach of the drug regulation report." This puts her in the ranks of the AVR's critics, because the BPI had already sought a report from Cassel/Ulrich, which had shown that that the calculation of the savings potential in the AVR has been too high for years.

The Generics Association also makes a similar breach when it says that the AVR “in essential parts does not bring any gain in knowledge,” as Bork Bretthauer, managing director of Pro Generika, explained. On the contrary, he continues and says that the AVR is “obviously relying on propaganda and is counting on phantom figures.” Just a few days ago, the AOK announced that its discount contracts already covered 75% of the generics market, so the cash here comes from the generics companies Receive discounts on the list price. In this respect, the list price for discount medicines has no relevance to the AOK's actual medicine expenditure.