Effects of Generic Medicines Containing Losartan on Health Care Budget in Hungary 2007–2010

Background: Under the legislation which came into force in 2007 (act XCVIII of 2006) regarding several drug-economical regulations, such as the improvement of market share of generic drugs, should have to led to decreased health care expenditures. This study illustrates an exception. Our study’s objective is to highlight a possible cost-increasing effect of the aforementioned law, and to bring the legislators’ attention to the latent problems in our health care system.
Materials and methods: We have used the databank of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in our analysis. The analysed active substance was selected due to the author’s personal experience with the substance as a sales representative.
Results: Between January 2007 and August 2010 the quantity of administered drugs containing losartan as an active substance measured in packages increased by 18.75x, representing a 26.7x increase measured in DOT (Days of Treatment). The public reimbursement for this substance increased by 548% in the same period.
Conclusion: The legislation resulted in the increase of expenditures in some cases, such as losartan. It is important to pay more attention to the marketing activity of pharmaceutical companies. The change of medicines getting public reimbursement can be another important method for reducing the health care budget.