Romania's Health Minister wants to regulate drug prices

Romania’s Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu said that he would issue a minister order in the next days that will regulate drug prices, as well as other aspects that will ensure patient access to medications. “In the last years, more than 1,000 drugs have disappeared from the market,” Voiculescu said. “Several companies have simply decided not to come to Romania or to withdraw their products from Romania.” This is related to the price mechanism, as well as to the lack of regulatory predictability, the minister explained. “We will try to improve the price mechanism,” Voiculescu added. The new order will also ensure that there is a system for reporting the lack of drugs, but also a system for monitoring the available drug inventories. Voiculescu said that coercive measures will be taken, where there isn’t good will, in order to create trust again, whether it has to do with the state or with private partners. The minister also said that the auction for the hexavalent vaccine has been completed. The Ministry will promote the Vaccine Law which provides the existence of reserve inventories. Voiculescu added that the ministry will take measures to encourage doctors to go to the places without access to medical help, especially in rural areas. Over six million people in Romania don’t have access to health services, he explained. editor@romania-insider.com