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The growth of costs is under control

 

The reimbursement costs have been under control since 2008. If this fact is disregarded when implementing the cuts and the structural reform of the reimbursement system described in the Government program, additional cuts may jeopardise the pharmacotherapies of patients, or lead to an increase in other healthcare expenses.

 
  • The savings for society of the reference price system and extended generic substitution come from two different sources: the substitution of medicines by the pharmacies and the tougher price competition between pharmaceutical companies.

  • Between April 2009 and December 2010, the substitution by the pharmacies generated aggregate savings totalling 137 million euro. Patient savings were 127 million while the savings made within the medicines reimbursement system were 10 million euro.

  • The savings caused by the decrease in medicines prices resulting from the tougher price competition were over 190 million euro in the years 2009 and 2010.

  • The total savings made by society and patients were thus over 300 million euro.

  • The medicine reimbursements paid by Kela increased by 0.2% in 2009 and decreased by 1.6% in 2010.

  • From January to September in 2011 medicine reimbursements paid by Kela increased modestly (3.3%). The current legislation will continue to generate savings in the coming years due to the price competition and the substitution of medicines by the pharmacies.
 

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The current Government’s programme includes the exigency to make 113 million euro worth of savings in medicine reimbursement expenses.
 
Instituted by Paula Risikko, the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, the working group for the reform of the medicines reimbursement system has been given more time to prepare the plans for the cuts. Their report is expected by mid-February 2012.
 

 

The assignment of the working group is twofold:
  •  the savings proposal (deadline 15 February 2012)
  •  preparation of the overall reform of the medicines reimbursement system (deadline 31 December 2012).
 
The objective set for the working group is to come up with a proposal for a combined set of means to reach the required 113 million euro savings. All stakeholders and parties involved recognise the fact that this aim cannot be reached through one single measure.
 
The working group is also expected to make a savings proposal that would divide the savings impact as evenly as possible among the actors in the sector. The second important premise is constituted by the aim recorded in the Government programme, according to which the pharmacotherapies of the patients in need of many medicines must not be jeopardised. Pharma Industry Finland PIF shares these objectives.
 
In the working group, PIF is represented by its General Manager Jussi Merikallio.