In order to increase equity in access to biosimilar medicines and thus generate savings in the health systems of the Member States of the European Union (EU), it is necessary to change the policies that are carried out in these medicines. Specifically from medicines for Europe, generic and biosimilar employers in the EU believe that a mechanism is necessary to acquire and strengthen their use.
“The benefits of biosimilar medicines are clear: they are beneficial to health systems, they offer more therapeutic options to patients, and their use is increasing access to medicines across Europe,” maintains the group. In fact, they are particularly concerned about the “growing gap” in access to drugs for autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory diseases, psoriasis) with a 114 percent gap; 50 percent in cancer; or 20 percent in diabetes.
Along the same lines, the association of teachers chaired by Elisabeth Stampa indicates other certain measures that help medicine without patents. On the other hand, they must deliver an efficient European regulatory system for biosimilar medicines, which adapts to the advance of biological regulatory science and simplifies the requirements, especially in comparability in biological medicines.
On the other hand, they think it is necessary to ensure a competitive market with multiple providers and to “eliminate the unfair recovery of taxes that punish the only industry that brings health savings.”
50% of the medicine does not have a biosimilar
However, the reform of the European Pharmaceutical Strategy can be the way to create this path, as indicated by Julie Maréchal-Jamil, director of biosimilars Policy & Medicines for Europe: “The vision of availability, accessibility and supply of biological therapeutics is aligned with EU pharmaceutical policy reform to provide access, availability and affordability;
In Spain, the Spanish Association of Biosimilar Medicines (Biosim) is working to make these medicines more and more available in the National Health System (SNS). In this sense, a few months ago, Extremadura first joined the CCAA in a partnership of interest for bisimiles. This is an agreement to improve the efficiency of hospitals through the use of a drug of this type that generates savings that can be applied to other clinical systems. In our region, the use of biosimilars allows savings of 30 percent in health spending and Extremadura estimates that, with its penetration and implementation of this agreement, it could be double. Although its results are yet to be seen.
In addition, the Minister of Health, José Miñones, has already announced that biosimilars have a place in the Strategic plan for the pharmaceutical industry, which is growing. Although little is known yet, the Ministry has announced that measures will be taken to promote the use of both these drugs and generics.
Although they contain statements, information or notes from institutions or health professionals, the information contained in Redacción Médica has been published and prepared by journalists. We recommend that the reader consult a healthcare professional with any health questions.
