The rise in drug prices is acceleratingthere are strong price disparities between similar products and the impact of the cost of medicines in relation to salary is much higher in Argentina than in the United States.
This is what is stated in the Report of the Cost Observatory of the UAS (Argentine Health Union), which brings together clinics, sanatoriums, private hospitals, laboratories and social works of management staff.
The relationship found “Strong increase in drug prices during the second quarter of 2022, with a significant acceleration compared to the previous period. There have been peaks of up to 50% in supplies for shelters; and it also exceeds inflation in high-cost remedies ”.
“The difference between the first and second quarter increases is alarming,” warns the report.
“In the first four months of the year, hospitalization stocks had increased 14% on average. In other words, in the following period the increase was more than double. In this way, prices resumed the worrying upward curve that had been recorded in 2020 and until the end of 2021. Then, for a few months, the trend slowed down due to the “freeze” agreed between the government and laboratories.
These increases occur at the same time as an increasing impact of these supplies on healthcare costs.
“Two years ago, two out of ten pesos earmarked for healthcare spending in Argentina were spent on medicines. Today that ratio has risen to three out of ten. “
Another novelty is that “The rise in prices has widened the disparities in market values. In recent months, the differences between branded drugs compared to similar products have increased. There are cases where they almost double their value. Some examples, details on UAS:
• A 500 mg aspirin. Bayer is 184% higher in price than a similar aspirin.
• A contraceptive (drospirenone 3 mg ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg) from Bayer is 58% more expensive than a similar medicine.
• A 500 mg paracetamol. Genomma has a 67% higher price than a similar drug.
• A 200 mg ibuprofen. Pfizer is priced 42% higher than a similar one.
• An 850 mg metformin from Montpellier is 39% higher in price than a similar drug.
On the other hand, “compared to the United States, the incidence of the cost of medicines in relation to salary is much higher in our country. It costs 387% more for a patient in Argentina to buy a 600 mg ibuprofen than for an American; 249% more to pay for a 500mg aspirin; 243% more access to a 10 mg buscopan; 197% more for a 500 mg paracetamol and 56% more for a metformin ”.
Source: Clarin
