According to the federal government’s plans, Germany is becoming more attractive as a pharmaceutical and medical technology location given the shortage of some standard drugs. These sectors are important for high-quality health services and make a significant contribution to value creation and innovation, said Minister Chancellor Thorsten Frei (CDU) after meetings with company and association representatives. The goal is to develop steps to achieve better conditions next year.
Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) told the German Press Agency that it is important to strengthen the innovative power of “Made in Germany” and to further expand security of supply. According to him, the focus is on reducing bureaucracy and speeding up processes. “At the same time, rising costs to the health system as a whole must be addressed.” The pharmaceutical sector must also make its contribution in this regard.
The meeting at the Chancellor’s Office was intended to be the start of developing a pharmaceutical and medical technology strategy. The inter-departmental dialogue process will now continue under the leadership of the Ministry of Health. Warken said the topic should be discussed together with stakeholders from industry, associations, science, independent healthcare systems and patient representatives. According to the government, existing formats – pharmaceutical strategy and pharmaceutical dialogue – should be combined.
Medicines are always in short supply
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the few sectors in Germany that is experiencing growth, but there are always obstacles – for example fever juice, painkillers and diabetes drugs or antibiotics. Germany relies heavily on China and India for many resources. The industry also blamed cost pressures on politicians for the fact that manufacturers in Germany had withdrawn from penicillin production. Due to current price regulations for many medicines in Germany, companies cannot simply pass on increased costs to customers by raising prices.
Concerns about dependence on China
The pharmaceutical and chemical union IG BCE called for steps to be taken to combat drug shortages. The focus should not just be on high technology and research, said union leader Michael Vassiliadis. “We also need to strengthen production of standard drugs and active ingredients.” The long list of drug shortages shows the true facts.
The chemical association VCI called for immediate steps to speed up processes, innovate and secure production sites. Germany has great opportunities in its healthcare industry, but also many disadvantages. Han Steutel, President of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, said that in the midst of the economic crisis, it is important to strengthen the base and growth opportunities of the pharmaceutical industry.
Dorothee Brakmann, General Manager of the German Pharmaceutical Association, said: “Pharmaceutical dialogue gives us the opportunity to overcome the regulatory inefficiencies and bureaucratic obstacles that are increasingly putting our sites under pressure and hampering the potential of our industry.”
Health insurance companies are concerned about higher pharmaceutical costs
This condition is also due to the fact that the increase in drug prices has an impact on the finances of compulsory health insurance companies (GKV). The coalition also wants to avoid increasing new contributions. The deputy chair of the Association of National Compulsory Health Insurance Funds, Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, told dpa: “We hope for a constructive and fair dialogue with concrete suggestions to protect the solidarity community from ever higher costs.” Mandatory health insurance companies with 75 million insured people are particularly interested in the powerful pharmaceutical and medical technology industries. However, pharmaceutical spending increased by six percent in the first half of this year alone.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251112-930-284950/2
