Belgium raises oncology drug spending 25%

Belgium's National Sickness-Disability Insurance Institute (Inami) and the local drug industry association (pharma.be) have noted that the 2007 drugs budget is likely to be balanced, as were the 2005 and 2006 figures. However, the budgeted-for increase in expenditure on pharmaceutical products last year was still 7%, including a 25% rise in the oncology sector alone.

The pharma.be noted that the sector contributes 270.0 million euros ($400.0 million) in taxes on turnover to the Belgian government, as well as providing a 100.0 million-euro buffer in the event of a budgetary overrun.

Major shift to generics since 2004