Hungary’s government will raise the tax drugmakers pay on sales of subsidised medicines to 20% from 12%, State Secretary for Health Miklós Szócska said on Tuesday.
The tax will rise as part of a new drug subsidy system that gives drugmakers more social responsibility and the state a bigger role, while reducing the burden on patients, Szócska said.
The proposal for the new system will be submitted to Parliament and could come into force in July, he added.
The maximum fine on drugmakers for infringements will be raised to HUF 500 million from HUF 25 million, he said.
Subsidies for some high-priced drugs will be tied to their therapeutic effectiveness, he added.
The new system will establish a “preferred reference price range” for cheaper products that have the same effect as more expensive medications, Szócska said. This will ensure that a cheap medicine is available among all groups of drugs, he added.
Tax on sales reps will rise to HUF 10 million from HUF 5 million.
Szócska dismissed reports that National Economy Minister György Matolcsy had met with managers of multinational drugmakers in the past days to discuss measures the government outlined in its structural reform program affecting drug subsidies.
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