In Pharma Industry Finland PIF’s view, savings should be primarily sought through a structural reform of the medicines reimbursement system. In addition to generating savings, this would promote patient equality and support an overall development of the healthcare system. PIF has proposed a new savings measure, a payback system, whereby pharmaceutical companies would pay part of their annual medicine sales proceeds to the State. PIF’s proposal was not adopted by the working group but the easy administrative way out - price cuts - prevailed.

The medicine wholesale price index calculated by Statistics Finland was down 1.6% in 2011. At the same time, the consumer price index climbed by 3.4%. The factors pushing medicine prices down include price competition, expired patents as well as medicines-related decisions made by the authorities.

Ilpo Tolonen, Managing Director of MSD Finland Oy, was re-elected for the 2012 term and continues to chair Pharma Industry Finland PIF. The PIF Vice Chairs are Antti Viitanen, Managing Director of Novartis Finland Oy and Janne Maksimainen, Director of Orion Corporation.