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19-04-2021

Officials have counter how much money was spent on medicines in Lithuania last year

Iliustracija

Last year, a total of EUR 377 million was paid in Lithuanian pharmacies for compensated medicines and medical assistance measures (MAM). Most of this amount, amounting to EUR 348 million, was reimbursed from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). The population paid an additional amount of EUR 22 million. However, they spent 1.3 million euros less on premiums than in 2019 and even 36 million less than in 2016, as evidenced by the health insurance fund data.

Last year, about 1.08 million inhabitants or about 38.8% of the total population used compensated medicines and MAM in Lithuania. The cost of the CHIF for compensated medicines and MAM, including the amount of the patients' surcharge, amounted to EUR 354.5 million. In 2020, the spending is EUR 31 million higher than in 2019 — EUR 323.4 million. It should be noted that since 1 July 2020, the most vulnerable groups of the population, i.e. patients 75 years of age and older, low-income persons over 65 years of age and disabled, have been granted access to compensated drugs and MAM without paying the patient premium. Last year, 6.8 million euros were compensated for residents over 75 years old and low income.

“The need for compensated medicines and medical aid measures is constantly increasing, not only because of the ageing population, but also the need to compensate for new medicinal products of high therapeutic value. Both the National health insurance fund and the state are making great efforts to include new medicines in the compensation system and reduce their prices”, — says Evaldas Stropus, Head of the Medical Compensation Department of the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (NHIF). According to him, last year alone, 36 new types of medicines began to be compensated — 10 more than in previous years. For the reimbursement of 25 new medicines, 31 CHIF cost management contracts were concluded with pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The analysis carried out by the specialists of the NHIF shows that the maximum amount of EUR 212 million from the CHIF was allocated to compensate for the original medicines last year. This is EUR 15 million more than in 2019, and even EUR 98 million more than five years ago. Last year, EUR 51.5 million was allocated to the reference medicines, the year before that - EUR 44.7 million, and the numbers are EUR 66.1 million and EUR 61.6 million respectively for generic medicines.

Last year, as in previous years, the population paid most of the overpay for the purchase of cardiological medicines — 13.7 million euros, medicines affecting the nervous system — 1.4 million euros and medicines affecting the gastrointestinal tract — 1.8 million euros. The largest amount of medicines being consumed in Lithuania are of cardiological type.

Last year 107 manufacturers offered compensated medicines in Lithuania. Most of the compensatory drugs were paid from the PSDF budget to the following pharmaceutical companies: „Novartis Europharm Ltd“ EUR 32.9 million, „Johnson & Johnson“ EUR 28.1 million, „Roche Registration Ltd“ EUR 17.8 million, „Menarini Group“ EUR 16.2 million, „Les Laboratoires Servier“ EUR 13.9 million, „AstraZeneca AB“ EUR 12.8 million , „KRKA d. d.“ EUR 12.4 million , „Pfizer Europe MA EEIG“ EUR 12.1 million ,„Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd“ EUR 11.6 million and „Bristol-Myers Squibb“ EUR 10.8 million.

Currently, the premium for the packaging of the compensated drug, when the drug is compensated by a rate of 100 percent, cannot exceed 4.71 euros in Lithuania. Statistics show that in 2020 the patient paid 2.87 euros for one prescription of the compensated drug, the state budget funds covered 2.76 euros of the patient premium for one prescription of the compensated drug, and one prescription of the compensatory drug and MAM on average resulted in the payment of 3 euros of premiums (including the amount of premiums covered).

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222.

Last updated: 27-05-2021

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