German drug discount deals attacked

Drug discount deals between German public-sector health funds (Krankenkassen) and drug companies pose considerable risks for patients, according to experts invoked by the German Association for Insured and Patients (DGVP). The association says that discount drugs are affected by delays in some 20% of cases of prescription and this means that security of supply - a key issue in German drug politics - is insufficiently safeguarded.

The DGVP has called on the health funds to focus on the welfare of patients and not on the lowest-cost drugs. The discount deals guarantee the drugmakers a certain price level so they are more profitable than the lowest-price products in their ranges. Patients also benefit because they are charged less.

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