AUSTRIA: WARNING ON DRUG COSTS
Article Abstract:
Erwin Rasinger, health sector spokesman for the VPO party, says that in 1998 spending on pharmaceuticals by Austria's medical insurers increased 12.6% to Sch 22.5bn. At the same time, the revenues of medical insurers increased by merely 3.3% and the turnovers of the pharmaceutical industry worldwide grew 6%. Health insurers' drug spending is forecast to continue to grow at the same rate in 1999. The Vienna medical insurance fund WGKK estimates that if the trend continues, in 2001 its spending on pharmaceuticals will be equally high as that on doctors' services. Between 1993 and 1998 pharmaceutical spending by medical insurers in Austria increased 34%, while that by hospitals grew by merely 4%. WGKK says that pharmaceutical producers give hospitals expensive drugs for free, and GPs are afraid to exchange them later against less expensive ones for fear of losing the therapeutic effect.
Publication Name: Presse
Subject: Business, international
ISSN:
Year: 1999
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Versicherung bezahlt Pille zum Abnehmen
Article Abstract:
The association of Austrian social insurance institutes has announced that statutory health insurance funds in Austria will take over the cost of the anti-obesity pill Xenical in medically justified cases for patients with a body mass index of 40 or more. People with a body mass index of at least 30 can be prescribed the pill if they pay for it themselves. Self-payers have to be on diet 4 weeks and lose 2.5 kg before the first prescription. Roche Austria is to launch Xenical in Austria in September 1998. The pills for a month are likely to cost about Sch 1,900.
Comment:
Austria: Statutory health insurance funds will take over the cost of the anti-obesity pill Xenical in medically justified cases
Publication Name: Presse
Subject: Business, international
ISSN:
Year: 1998
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AUSTRIA: MIFEGYNE AVAILABLE FROM SEPTEMBER
Article Abstract:
The abortion pill Mifegyne will be approved in Austria in September 1999.
Publication Name: Presse
Subject: Business, international
ISSN:
Year: 1999
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