PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 630 - 11 Jun 2011 Qatar: free-pricing law sees drug prices skyrocket The introduction of new free-trade legislation, designed to bring down the costs of medicines in Qatar, appears to have had the opposite effect, with wholesale drug prices rising as much as 30% within days of the law change. According to a report in PharmaTimes, a free-pricing law was introduced in April 2011, as it was believed that official prices for medicines – set by the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) – were too high compared with those seen in other markets in the region. The law put an end to the government’s control of retail prices, allowing importers to establish their own prices. However, it is believed that there is not currently enough competition in the market. Further legislation approved by the cabinet aims to end the monopoly held by the 18 importers currently licensed to bring medicines into the country, in order to bring prices back down. Qatar drug prices soar after law change. Pharma Times : 2 Jun 2011. Available from: URL: http://www.pharmatimes.com 803055309 1 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 11 Jun 2011 No. 630 1173-5503/10/0630-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved

Qatar: free-pricing law sees drug prices skyrocket

Download PDF Report

Upload
vuongnhan
View
215
Download
0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 630 - 11 Jun 2011

Qatar: free-pricing law sees drugprices skyrocket

The introduction of new free-trade legislation,designed to bring down the costs of medicines in Qatar,appears to have had the opposite effect, with wholesaledrug prices rising as much as 30% within days of the lawchange.

According to a report in PharmaTimes, a free-pricinglaw was introduced in April 2011, as it was believed thatofficial prices for medicines – set by the Pharmacy andDrug Control Department of the Supreme Council ofHealth (SCH) – were too high compared with those seenin other markets in the region. The law put an end to thegovernment’s control of retail prices, allowing importersto establish their own prices. However, it is believed thatthere is not currently enough competition in the market.Further legislation approved by the cabinet aims to endthe monopoly held by the 18 importers currentlylicensed to bring medicines into the country, in order tobring prices back down.Qatar drug prices soar after law change. Pharma Times : 2 Jun 2011. Availablefrom: URL: http://www.pharmatimes.com 803055309