Health: Tar rejects the imposition of reference prices for medicines

(AGENPARL) - Rome, May 8 - The Tar agrees with the free pharmaceutical market and another boulder falls on the health spending review. The administrative court of Lazio ordered the annulment of the list of reference prices for medical devices, established by the supervisory authority of public contracts, as part of the measures to rationalize health care costs envisaged by the spending review decree. In particular, the Tar censured the methodology used to define the reference prices, identifying various reasons of illegitimacy. The administrative judges criticize the limited number of surveys carried out and the consequent poor representativeness of the sample and the incorrect use of the national classification of medical devices. In doing so, the reference price could be compared with the individual devices and with the concrete characteristics of the individual tenders, such as the associated and ancillary services, the quantities of supplies, the payment methods and the duration of the contracts. In short, the regions and local health authorities would have been forced differently to buy products at very low prices, absolutely unsustainable for businesses, also penalizing the offer of public health services.

HEALTH: ASSOBIOMEDICA APPLAUDS REJECTED PRICES ON DRUGS

(AGENPARL) - Rome, May 8 - Assobiomedica welcomes the decision of the Lazio Regional Administrative Court to reject the imposition desired by the spending review decree regarding drug prices. “The Tar's decision is of great importance for the entire sector – declared the president Of Assobiomedica, Stephen Rimondi – and represents a reason for satisfaction for us. Assobiomedica He had been trying for some time to explain how important it is that when comparing products, all the factors that make up the supply are taken into consideration: volumes, delivery methods, technical assistance, the level of technological evolution of the product, the training required for operators. Comparisons must be made between similar products and supplies, and the fact that the Lazio Regional Administrative Court shared our position proves it". "The reference prices - continued the president Of Assobiomedica – would have forced the administrations to buy more and more products at very low prices, absolutely unsustainable for companies that supply good quality devices, penalizing the offer of public health services. We know that there are pockets of waste and inefficiency – concluded Rimondi – e Assobiomedica has long been asking for transparency and appropriateness in healthcare purchases, but Fr