The price of generic pharmaceuticals could fall later in the year – and save us all half a billion francs. Unless the powerful drugs lobby succeed in stopping a change in the law.
The price of off-the-shelf drugs are twice as much here than in neighbouring countries – and that’s being blamed for the reason of continuing health insurance price rises.
The lower house of parliament, the National Council, wants to change the law that would allow drugs that have been approved by the EU to enter the country without the additional need to get clearance from the regulator Swissmedic.
But the pharmaceutical lobby say that would create a supply problem as companies that import the drugs would go out of business. They also say there would be a risk of counterfeits.
Parliament will be voting on the new law during the summer session.
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