Croatia plans import agency for expensive drugs
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Croatia’s health ministry may establish a new non-profit state agency with the exclusive right to import particularly expensive medicines from manufacturers, as some intermediaries in their supply chains apply up to 50% trade mark-ups. If implemented, the move could save up to €8.2 million, reports Scrip’s correspondent in Zagreb. These products are intended for around 400 patients and are expected to cost almost €55 million this year. The existing agency responsible for providing these drugs may be up to about €9.5 million short of funds, as the government initially allocated €27 million and then added just €6.8 million to cover the expected shortfall.
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