French Senate endorses drug and patient fees

The French Senate has approved the establishment of drug charges and other patient fees. Prescribed but non-reimbursable medicines will now be subjected to a 0.50 euros ($0.73) surcharge per package. This charge is in addition to a one euro fee for prescribable products that are reimbursable.

France's Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, defended the charges, stating that the more drug and other health spending exceeds budgetary target levels, the less room for maneuver sickness benefit funds and the government have in meeting growing demand for health care.

Mrs Bachelot also told reporters that physicians have been less successful this year than in 2006 at controlling drug spending. According to the French national sickness insurance fund (CNAM), new drug spending and the use of expensive options where generics were available contributed to a 6.5% overall rise in the national drugs bill, considerable over the government's objective (Marketletters passim).