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Victoria Mindova

Huge scandal took place on a press conference given by the ministers of development, social security and health. The announced for 10:00AM press conference was held at almost 11:0AM and the ministers refused to answer any questions of the journalists. One after the other Louka Katzeli, Andreas Loverdos and Mariliza Xenoyanakopoulou presented their positions regarding a change in the legal framework of methods for supply and pricing of medicines in Greece and after that left the room. The talks that filled the room after that were the lack of respect of the newly elected government towards the media.

The ministers announced the measures, which will be undertaken for long term decrease in pharmaceutical expenses in healthcare, which throughout the past few years report an increase of 20% per year. Right now the budget deficit of hospitals has reached €7 billion and with the current pricing system of imported medicines, the debt will keep increasing. “The irresponsible policy of the previous government regarding hospital expenses control and taking away the free medicines list, has led to an enormous increase in prices today,” said Health Minister Xenoyanakopoulou. The PASOK government decided to bring back the free medicines list and to introduce a common information system for report and control of medical products.

The Minister of Economy, Development and Commercial Shipping, Louka Katzeli said a new pricing method will be created for imported substitute medicines (patent medicine, which have identical ingredients but are produced by different pharmaceutical companies) and their price will be set according to the average price of the three cheapest medicines of this kind in the EU.

Labor and Social Security Minister Andreas Loverdos said that right now the social-health policy of Greece is in a crisis, “the system is ill” and it needs immediate changes. Control will be easier by introducing a common information system in all health and social security units and according to done research, the state will save about €250 million during 2010.