MADRID, Jan 19 (APM) - The Spanish medical association, OMC, on Monday criticised pharma over the high price of new hepatitis C drugs, saying they could endanger patients with other conditions by diverting funds away from them.
The association, which represents all of the country's regional associations, said in its statement that "patients' lives cannot be compromised because of drugs with abusive, greedy, unfair prices."
Access to new hepatitis C drugs is a public health issue affecting thousands of patients in Spain, the OMC said. The association said it is “irrational” that prices of these drugs vary from 750 euros per patient in India and Egypt to 69,000 euros in the U.S.
The cost of manufacturing these drugs, OMC said, goes from 50 to 100 euros per patient, according to recent studies.
OMC warned pharma’s aggressive pricing strategy can jeopardise the quality of other healthcare areas, unbalance basic services, reduce investment in infrastructures and healthcare technologies and even impact healthcare workforce’s salaries.
Without recent epidemiological data, estimates of infected patients in Spain vary hugely, from lows of 50,000 to near one million (APMMA 41065). OMC’s estimate of patients in the country is around 500,000.
With considerable amounts of public money spent in these patients, Spain’s public healthcare system, already short on funds, could face additional difficulties, OMC said.
The statement said it is shocking the EU has not looked to negotiate better and fairer prices for these therapies.
There is a total lack of co-ordination among EU members, which negotiate independently and without transparency in spite of the issue’s social and economical relevance, the association noted.
Pharma’s strategy concerning innovative therapies will be maintained and probably cause similar problems with other innovative drugs in the future, the association warned.
Market policies should be changed, as should the relationship between pharma and government. Otherwise, healthcare will become affordable for some citizens whereas others will be excluded, the statement said.
The government must make clear to pharma when it comes to innovation public health concerns come before business, and profits must be cost-adjusted, OMC noted.
The way pharma and the public healthcare system currently interact is obsolete and this model should be revisited, the statement said.
Finally, OMC demanded the government to create a specific fund to pay for new hepatitis C drugs.
Spain’s health ministry will gather real-life safety and efficacy data before deciding on a special fund (APMMA 41112).
Spain’s health ministry will gather real-life safety and efficacy data before deciding on a special fund (APMMA 41112).
Seven of these new drugs have been approved for reimbursement in Spain over the past months under risk-sharing schemes.
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