Shortage of medicinal products in Romania

14.2.2017

Question for written answer E-000998-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Maria Grapini (S&D)

As of 1 July 2017, Article 8(1) will come into force in Romania. It was introduced by Order No 703/2015, according to which the prices of innovative medicines should drop to those of generic medicines. Up to that date, the prices of innovative (original) medicines were higher, as the production costs for those medicines are significantly higher. At present, the cost of a generic medicine (which contains the active ingredient and has the same effect) can be a maximum of 65% higher than the value of the original product. As the prices will be reduced by up to 35%, 123 medicines will disappear from the market starting on 1 July and, in Romania alone, this will affect 800 000 patients suffering from cardiovascular and neurological diseases or cancer, in addition to other diseases. It will be the large pharmaceutical companies that will benefit from this situation. At present, medicines in Romania have the lowest price in the EU, and this price is state-regulated.

What measures does the Commission plan to take to avoid a medicine crisis in Romania?