New list to see reduction in medicine prices

THE PRICE of medicine in Cyprus will remain below the EU average, following the Cabinet’s decision to adopt a new list of medicine prices worth €1.5 million a year to the consumer.

Health Minister Christos Patsalides said the new policy provides a particular arrangement on medicine under five euros, which after the discussions have been marked as ‘cheap medicines’, whose price will not change.

“Our basic philosophy in this new pricing policy is that Cyprus remains below the average selling price of medicines in the EU,” Patsalides said.

According to the minister, the aim is to maintain these drugs on the market, because their disappearance from the market would be disastrous for patients as they would be forced to buy them at more expensive prices.

The Minister said he felt “very happy” because after many consultations and meetings they finally got around to revising the pricelist, resulting in a €1.5 million annual benefit to the consumer.

The chairman of the House Health Committee, Eleni Theocharous, said, “Let me say that the only one who is vindicated is the Cypriot public, who with the approval of the list will at least have medicine at really cheap prices.”

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