HEALTH MINISTER Andreas Gavrielides yesterday stuck to his guns, maintaining that across-the-board price cuts for medicines would be implemented as announced, while downplaying speculation that consumers would eventually pick up the tab for the government’s quarrel with the protesting pharmaceutical companies.
As of today, drugs available on the market will on average become 25 per cent cheaper, some prices will remain the same, others will drop and the rest will see an increase. The Health Ministry has distributed a list of some 2,000 medicines, reprinted by newspapers, and has urged people to consult the list and even take it with them when they next visit a pharmacy. Concerns have been voiced that importers and, by extension, the drug stores, might fail to comply in a bid to safeguard their profit margins.
The salient law governing availability and pricing was amended last week during a plenum session of parliament, although the government’s intentions have been known since late last year.
In recent weeks the debate stirred up a storm, with pharmaceutical companies saying they would incur millions of pounds in losses because they were saddled with enormous stocks purchased from manufacturers at the old (and more expensive) prices. In fact, their association SFEK had threatened to file a £5.5 million lawsuit against the government if the House approved the bill.
Amid worries that the powerful medicine importers might retaliate by opting to purchase mostly high-priced drugs from manufacturers from now – meaning consumers would get a raw deal – the opposition dismissed the bill as a stopgap measure that would not resolve the running problem of medicine costs.
A survey carried out by the Health Ministry has shown the price of drugs in Cyprus to be among the highest in the EU, corroborating public sentiment. The study also showed that Cypriot wholesalers’ profit margins were almost double the EU average. Pharmacists, on the other hand, made profits that were comparable to several other European countries, suggesting that the problem lay with the middleman.
On paper at least, the retail price of approximately 50 per cent of drugs should be slashed, although to varying degrees. But many others will remain unchanged.
A look at the changes:
Product Old price New price
Actifed Expectorant Syrup £3.56 £3.56
Amoxil Caps 500mg £44.87 £17.29
Ativan Tabs 1mg £2.27 £0.83
Ginsana Soft Capsules: £21.73 £21.73
Imodium Capsules (60 pack £7.09 £7.09
Lemsip Cold & Flu oral powder £2.66 £2.66
Lexotanil tabs 3mg £3.02 £1.90
Nicorette Medicated Chewing Gum 2mg (20 piece) £3.46 £3.46
Panadol soluble tabs 500mg £1.62 £1.54
Tentil eye drops £1.22 £0.83
The Menopause Pack Sachets £9.60 £9.60
Viagra FC tabs 100mg (8 tab) £66.05 £54.98
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Gavrielides said the government was ready to import medicines from Greece should any shortages arise, which he thought unlikely.
On whether some pharmacists might try to cheat customers regardless, Gavrielides said that inspectors would intensify random checks at stores to make sure everything was running smoothly.
But in a bid to show that the ministry was not on a collision course with the profession, he added: “We are not out to get pharmacists; I am confident we can trust them and, in cases where the price list is not adhered to, we shall deal with it on a case-by-case basis.” But where non-compliance was unjustified, owners would be reported, asserted Gavrielides.
It goes without saying that the ministry’s watchdogs would have their work cut out tracking the hundreds of pharmacies found at every street corner.
However, Gavrielides said that pharmacists knew of the impending changes for some time now, hinting that ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse.
In addition to complaints about excessive red tape with the new arrangements, some pharmacists claim their price lists are not computerised and that therefore there is no way they can make the March 1 deadline.
n For more a full list of the prices, please visit the link on our website at www.cyprus-mail.com
