Pharma Association: Bulgarians Pay Big for Medicines

Bulgarians are paying too much for their medicines, stated Saturday representatives of the Bulgarian Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.

According to their data, Bulgarian citizens are paying about 64% of the price of medicines, while the remaining 34% are covered by the state healthcare fund. The mean percentage for the EU of healthcare coverage of the price of medicines is much more – 80%.

Pharmaceutical producers also pointed out to a 20% VAT rate for medicines, which for the EU is usually 5-10%.

This makes for the high prices of medicines observed in the country.

Pharmacologists have nevertheless registered a 10% increase in the sales of drugs for the first half of 2010. They commented that there is no increase in the amount of medicines purchased by hospitals, which according to them indicates that many Bulgarians are purchasing medicines on their own, which are then treated to th