Pharmaceutical industry employers request 40-percent hike in medication prices

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Ahead of the update of foreign exchange rate in medication sales in Turkey in February, Pharmaceutical Industry Employers' Union (İEİS) Secretary General Savaş Malkoç has spoken to Bloomberg TV and said that the exchange rate of Euro, which is currently fixed at 4.58 Turkish Lira (TRY) in pricing the medication, should be increased by 40 percent to 6.40 TRY.

Given that the exchange rate is fixed once a year, Malkoç has also requested that the exchange rate be updated for another time this year.

Referring to the fluctuations in the exchange rates over the past year, Savaş Malkoç has recalled that the exchange rate of Euro hit 20-21 Turkish Lira (TRY) last year, which negatively affected both pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers. He has underlined that "the exchange rate to be specified by the state should be suited to the realities of the market."

Malkoç has said that "the increase in exchange rates caused an increase of almost 100 percent in costs globally and domestically", adding that "it has become harder to maintain the trend set in R&D."

'Shortage of medications not due to pharmacies'

In a statement on January 24, All Pharmacists Employers' Union (TEİS) Chair Nurten Saydan also indicated that the current shortage of medications in Turkey is "not caused by pharmacies, but by some suppliers and distribution companies that have been stockpiling drugs" ahead of February, when the new fixed exchange rate in pricing of medications will be set.

As reported by Diken news website, there is especially a shortage of antibiotics, children's syrups, nasal sprays, some hypertension and oncology drugs. Saydan has said that due to the expected update of the fixed Euro exchange rate in February, "pharmaceutical warehouses and companies dispatch as few medications as possible from their stocks."

Saydan has criticized that "after the change in prices enters into effect in February, the related medications appear in the markets all of a sudden." She has also indicated that they, as the union, "applied to the Health Ministry because of the aggrievement faced by pharmacies and, therefore, by citizens due to some companies and distributors."

On the other hand, in the event that the medication prices are increased by 100 percent in February 2022, an employee with social security will have to pay 400 TRY in advance for a prescription costing 1,000 TRY while the same amount is currently 200 TRY. (AEK/SD)