BPI Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry
Berlin (ots)
The Federal Audit Office (BRH) examined the development of the financial situation of statutory health insurance (GKV). In his assessment, structural problems are the reason for the lack of financial reserves of the health insurance companies. The Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry EV (BPI) shares this assessment – however, clearly contradicts a central point: The recommendation of the BRH to support itself for short -term savings on the expert opinion of the Council of Experts (SVR) is fatal from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry: “Whoever screws the price structure of pharmaceuticals is not only weakened Pharmaceutical company, but fails to recognize the economic consequences and at the same time endanger the care of patients, “warns Dr. Kai Joachimsen, general manager of the BPI. “The search for errors and solution at the financial misery of the SHI must start elsewhere,” emphasizes Joachimsen.
Sustainable reform of GKV financing is overdue
“An example of defective structural financing is the healthcare of citizens’ gates – it is burdening the GKV annually with around ten billion euros. This is structural and systematic. It is currently being transferred by insured and employer. As Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken has correctly recognized, it is urgently necessary to free the GKV from costs overall. Tax financed, “emphasizes Joachimsen. “Instead, we only experience short -term emergency aids such as loans subject to repayment that further increase the pressure on the system.”
Expenditure development: a question of the context
The BRH in particular refers to rising expenses for patent -protected drugs. However, the BPI emphasizes:
“Even if highly innovative therapies initially appear to be high -priced, they relieve the health system in the long term – they lead to fatal disease courses prevented or serious suffering. On the other hand, our industry has been contributing significantly to stabilizing the SHI for years. Nevertheless, the impression is always given that medicinal products are the main problem – even though their cost share of the total expenses of the statutory health insurance funds has been constant for years About 35 price instruments now have an eleven percent after deducting all trade levels.
- Discount contracts The health insurers relieve almost six billion euros annually.
- Through Reimbursement amounts (amnog) the savings of 144 million euros (2013) have increased to 7.3 billion euros in 2024.
- Over Forced discounts the industry paid an additional 2.8 billion euros in 2023, in 2024 it will still be around 1.7 billion euros.
- Fixed amounts For more than 30 years, further savings of around eight billion euros annually.
Graphics: 30 years of over -regulation of the pharmaceutical industry
BPI position on the SVR report
“In the current debate, the expert opinion of the Council of Experts (SVR) also provides good impulses – for example in the event of a stronger digitization in healthcare or targeted promotion of clinical research. But the many profound market interventions in the drug price formation consistently counteract central commitments in the coalition agreement. Joachimsen.
The Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry recommends:
- Secure market access: Free pricing on the launch of new drugs is an essential factor for the early availability of new drugs in Germany – interim prices would delay the access of patients to new therapies.
- Increase planning security: A binding and early determination of comparison therapy creates reliability for studies, benefit ratings and price negotiations.
- Do not lose sight of people with rare diseases: The additional benefit of medicinal products against rare suffer (Orphan Drugs) must continue to be recognized automatically. Otherwise, there is a risk of resignation in research and care for patients with rare diseases.
- No hidden ration from threshold values: Use cost-benefit ratings only in a targeted manner-routine applications create hurdles.
- Balancing price negotiations: Decisions on the reimbursement ability of drugs must not only be due to the GKV top association (e.g. by resigning during ongoing negotiations) – the manufacturer’s negotiation position must be strengthened.
- Strive for innovation -friendly remuneration: Tripping innovations must be rewarded and price models for specific therapy directions, such as Pay for Performanceare legally anchored.
- Re-evaluations of additional use with a sense of proportion: There are already legal options – permanent new ratings are neither affordable for companies nor for authorities.
- No pharmaceutical budgets: They would inhibit innovation incentives, devalue amnog and implicitly lead to rationing patients.
- Flexible price adjustments already possible: The pricing system already allows dynamic adjustments today, additional instruments are unnecessary.
- Strengthen the location: Remove the bureaucracy, expand digital research infrastructure, secure tax -financed funding.
- Pharma recognize as a leading industry: Medicines not only understand as costs, but as an investment in health and business.
Pharmadialog as a key to sustainable solutions
“It is now important for our industry that the pharmadialog is quickly continued after the parliamentary summer break. We hope that further projects will be implemented with speed and clear priorities. Because Germany needs a fair pricing for medicinal products – only in this way can companies also refinance research and production in this country and politics in turn can in turn. Master, “says Joachimsen.
Press contact:
Laura Perotti (deputy press spokeswoman),
Tel. 030 27909-131, lperotti@bpi.de
Original content of: BPI Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry, transmitted by News Aktuell
