Published on June 4, 2008
Procedure of the Ministry of Finance in fixing the maximum price of Visudyne
Procedure of the Ministry of Finance in fixing the maximum price of Visudyne
In association with inquiring into an individual complaint pertaining to the amount of patients’ supplementary payment for Visudyne (a medicine), the Defender’s deputy was informed that Visudyne is supplied by Novartis to the Czech Republic for a higher price than in other EU member states (except Slovakia). Given these facts, the deputy decided to open an inquiry on her own initiative to ascertain whether the pricing decision of the Ministry of Finance in the case of Visudyne was issued in accordance with valid legislation.
A meeting was subsequently held at the Ministry of Finance, aimed at answering the question of why the Novartis preparation was supplied to the Czech Republic for a higher price than to other EU member states (except Slovakia). The representatives of the Ministry stated that the manufacturer had applied for the first registration of the pharmaceutical in the Czech Republic and thus there had not been any ordering price lists applicable to other European states at the time of fixing the maximum price. The offered price also seems to have been influenced by the low prevalence of the disease concerned in the Czech Republic and thus the prospect of a lower profit. It was agreed in conclusion of the meeting the Ministry would send to the deputy all the basic documents that had served for fixing the maximum price of Visudyne so that she could judge the procedure of the Ministry in a qualified manner and consider further procedure in the inquiry.
Procedure of the Ministry of Finance in fixing the maximum price of Visudyne
In association with inquiring into an individual complaint pertaining to the amount of patients’ supplementary payment for Visudyne (a medicine), the Defender’s deputy was informed that Visudyne is supplied by Novartis to the Czech Republic for a higher price than in other EU member states (except Slovakia). Given these facts, the deputy decided to open an inquiry on her own initiative to ascertain whether the pricing decision of the Ministry of Finance in the case of Visudyne was issued in accordance with valid legislation.
A meeting was subsequently held at the Ministry of Finance, aimed at answering the question of why the Novartis preparation was supplied to the Czech Republic for a higher price than to other EU member states (except Slovakia). The representatives of the Ministry stated that the manufacturer had applied for the first registration of the pharmaceutical in the Czech Republic and thus there had not been any ordering price lists applicable to other European states at the time of fixing the maximum price. The offered price also seems to have been influenced by the low prevalence of the disease concerned in the Czech Republic and thus the prospect of a lower profit. It was agreed in conclusion of the meeting the Ministry would send to the deputy all the basic documents that had served for fixing the maximum price of Visudyne so that she could judge the procedure of the Ministry in a qualified manner and consider further procedure in the inquiry.