#Generic #Medicines #released #million
“The dispensation of generic medicines saved the State and users in the amount of 580 million euros, the highest number ever in thirteen years”, highlights the president of the National Pharmacy Association.
In 2023, generic medicines allowed financing of more than 580 million euros to be allocated to healthcare, 71.6 million more than in 2022, which corresponds to a growth of 14.1%.
These are data from the Center for Health Studies and Evaluation (CEFAR), and from the online counter on the Apogen website, launched in 2020 through a partnership between the National Pharmacy Association (ANF) and the Portuguese Association of Generic and Biosimilar Medicines ( Apogen), which, in 2024, already has a value of more than 96 million euros.
In a statement, ANF and Apogen highlight that “with every second that passes, the dispensing of Generic Medicines (MG) generates a value of 18.42 euros for Portuguese families and the State in community pharmacies”.
This is the highest number ever in 13 years of accounting. In total, between 2011 and 2023, the MG has already released resources worth 5,860 million euros.
According to Health Market Research (HMR), in 2023, around 108 million packages of MG were dispensed in community pharmacies, which corresponds to a growth of 5.7% compared to the previous year.
Apogen, represented by President Maria do Carmo Neves, argues that “these more cost-effective therapies guarantee greater access to health, increase access to innovation and contribute to the reduction of social inequalities, as well as allowing the prevention of disease and the increase in average life expectancy”.
“The value generated, year after year, reflects the role of these therapeutic alternatives in the economy, health and social cohesion, especially at a time when controlling public spending on medicines is an indispensable dimension to ensure the sustainability and financial efficiency of the SNS”, he adds.
“In order to enable the added value of generic and biosimilar medicines and the results generated in the virtuous circle of health sustainability, it is essential to create conditions of predictability and attractiveness in this strategic sector, especially in a period in which barriers are reported in the access due to the current scarcity of various presentations on the market”, concludes Maria do Carmo Neves.
The president of the National Pharmacy Association, Ema Paulino, highlights that “Portuguese pharmacies are an essential partner in defending health policies that promote the introduction of generic medicines, essential for the sustainability of the health system”.
“We are pleased with the results obtained in 2023, which indicate that the dispensation of generic medicines allowed savings for the State and users in the amount of 580 million euros, the highest number ever in thirteen years”, highlights the president of the National Pharmacy Association.
Ema Paulino understands that “we can do more and to continue to stimulate the growth of its market share, it is essential to review the incentive model for dispensing generic medicines to pharmacies, through updating the criteria of the current regime, a proposal that the ANF has presented it as a strategy to encourage the promotion of access to medicine”.
