Greek pharma seeks increased investment on medicines, as better health equals a stronger economy

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into the spotlight, at European level and particularly in Greece, the gaps in the national health systems, which are mainly due to underfunding and long-standing distortions, commented the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE). The energy crisis was added on top of the pandemic impact.

In Greece, the State allocates on medicines 26% less resources than the other Southern European countries and 47% less in comparison to the Western European countries, which is not sufficient to cover the real needs of the country’s population. It should be understood that pharmaceutical expenditure is actually stagnant since 2014 to date – identical for the past nine years – aside from the fund of vaccines. This situation in combination with the lack of measures for demand curtailing causes cost overrun, which is mainly covered by the pharmaceutical companies, through exorbitant and unbridled compulsory refunds (clawback and rebates), along with out-of-pocket payments.

The State should at last look seriously into these issues, the SFEE warned.