Supply Crisis in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Causes and Solutions
In recent years, in the pharmaceutical industry The problems experienced, especially in terms of production and supply, cause serious concerns. As stated by Savaş Malkoç, Secretary General of the Pharmaceutical Industry Employers' Union (IEIS), high costs, medicine dry and available drug price decree Factors such as these bring with them the risk of a major contraction in the sector.
Contraction and Supply Crisis in Pharmaceutical Production
In December 2024, in pharmaceutical industry production The 19,6% contraction in the sector supply crisis This situation is even more alarming, as a 7,3% annual decline is increasing the probability of drug pricing legislation stressing that it must be updated immediately, otherwise Major problems in drug supply stated that it is possible to live.
Increasing Production Difficulties
Economic conditions make pharmaceutical production more challenging every day. Credit costs increase, labor ve Raw material costs The rise is among the biggest challenges facing the sector. Malkoç stated that labor costs alone have increased by 50% this year, but the exchange rate increase in the sector has remained at 23,5%. While the current euro exchange rate is approaching 40 TL, the exchange rate used in drug pricing remains at only 21,67 TL, making the situation even more critical.
The Need for Reform in the Drug Pricing System
Malkoç emphasizes that the pharmaceutical pricing system needs to be restructured with a radical reform. The current pricing policy in Türkiye R&D investments This leads to insufficient resources allocated and this negatively affects the development of the sector.
How Does the Medicine Pricing System Work in Türkiye?
Implemented in Türkiye since 2004 reference price system was developed to control public spending on medicines. In addition to the source countries of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece, this system is based on the lowest price among the countries from which the product is imported. For drugs with no equivalent, the entire reference price is taken into account, and for drugs with equivalents, 60% of the reference price is taken into account. The determined price is multiplied by the periodic euro value determined annually to calculate the price of the product in Turkish Lira.
Methods to Combat the Crisis in Drug Supply
- Pricing Reform: Updating the drug pricing system is a critical step to avoiding a supply crisis.
- Supporting Domestic Production: Increasing incentives for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers will help strengthen production capacity in the sector.
- R&D Investments: Allocating more resources to research and development activities will encourage the production of innovative drugs.
- International Collaborations: Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies abroad can enable the introduction of new technologies and production methods to the country.
As a result
The supply crisis in the pharmaceutical industry is a complex problem caused by many factors coming together. However, this crisis can be overcome by taking the right steps. Drug pricing system Solutions such as updating, supporting local manufacturers and increasing R&D investments are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the sector. It should not be forgotten that a healthy pharmaceutical sector is necessary for a healthy society.
