Ticino launches two initiatives to reduce medication costs

. Consequently, Ticino wants to file two cantonal initiatives with federal chambers to reduce medication expenses. Nevertheless, The idea is to “empower everyone,” said the head of the Department of Health Raffaele de Rosa on Friday. However, – Ticino launches two initiatives reduce

(Keystone-ATS) The initiative “for the compulsory replacement of interchangeable drugs” aims to introduce the principle of the obligation to replace an original preparation or a reference medication with a credits or a biosimilar. What is called a biosimilar is not identical. but ticino launches two initiatives reduce very similar to the reference preparation and comparable in terms of efficiency, safety and quality.

Currently. in Switzerland, the generics are issued in 75 percent cases, said Rosa on Friday in front of the media, “there is still an increase in this area”. In Germany, for example, the rate is 92 percent.

The second initiative. entitled “for a reduction in the price of drugs after the expiration of the patent”, plans an automatic mechanism for reducing the price of a medication after the expiration of the patent.

At that time. the costs of research and development of the drug are covered and an increase in prices is no longer justified, explained the State Councilor of the Center during a meeting with the media on the theme of health costs.

Ticino wants to submit these two texts to the federal parliament in order to modify the law on health insurance. The objective is to reduce ticino launches two initiatives reduce health spending in compulsory health insurance.

“Great savings potential”

Both the first. Additionally, the second initiative are “effective” with regard to health costs, without affecting the quality of health care and patient safety, said Mr. de Rosa.

The implementation of the initiative for more generics. biosimilars would save about half a billion francs, and the second even more. On a national level, medication costs have more than doubled in the past ten years.

The two initiatives must first obtain the green light from the great Ticino council before being deposited in Bern.