'Temporary' solution to medicine shortage in Turkey: Prices of 508 drugs increased

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As a result of companies not supplying medicine to the market because prices were not covering costs, the prices of 508 drugs were increased.

Even though the companies have got the increase they wanted and will supply medicine, this will not solve the problem permanently.

"Scales haven't been updated since 2009"

İstanbul Chamber of Pharmacists Chair Şeker Pınar explained the price increase.

"Some of the 508 drugs the prices of which were raised were not in the market as companies stopped supplying them. The companies of these drugs were not supplying them to the market because the price given did not cover their cost.

"With the current hike, there will be a temporary gain of time for the patient's access [to medicine]. We're observing some relief regarding the market availability of drugs for a while.

"Also, the pharmacy fee scales in the medicine prices decree should be updated urgently. This matter concerning pharmacies is of vital importance for us.

"It has not been updated since 2009. There is a system tried to be run without being adapted to inflation. In this economic environment, many pharmacies are about to shut down.

"Currently, pharmacists are trying to provide services with 2009 numbers, and therefore they can't. Neither the people nor the pharmacists should be affected by the state's cost calculations."

"We come at odds with patients"

"Pharmacists are people who experience the problem directly. When the price discount for the state is deficient, we have to deal with it even though it has nothing to do with us.

"We experience difficulties when a drug that can't be found in the market and we can't give it to the patient. We have to deal with the problems of the discount price and the lack of drugs in the market.

"All of these are of particular concern to pharmacists. We needlessly come at odds with the patients over the prices. Patients either cannot access medicine at all, or can have access by paying extra money."

"The system should be rearranged"

"We don't know how long these practices will save the companies. The basic problem, namely making drug pricing calculations by fixing them indexed to foreign currency, should be solved.

"Otherwise, the companies may consider not supplying medicine to the market or not making discounts a way to increase prices. Therefore, this system needs to be rearranged."

It is a temporary solution that companies will supply medicine to the market as a result of getting the increase they want. But for how long? We don't know." (MD/EMK/VK)