We should let hospitals procure medicines from sources other than Latvian wholesalers, said the board chairman of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital Normunds Staņēvičs in an interview to Latvijas Radio.
He explained that hospitals in Latvia are currently not allowed to procure medicines from manufacturers directly. They are required to procure medicines from Latvian wholesalers, which causes additional costs.
Staņēvičs mentioned that there are medicines not registered in Latvia and which are imported to treat rare diseases. “Sometimes wholesalers come at say – we will supply you, but it will cost EUR 100, take it or leave it. We cannot afford to not buy. This means we cannot control prices,” he explained.
Staņēvičs believes it is possible to ensure both lower prices and security when it comes to reserves if hospitals were allowed to procure medicines directly from the manufacturer. For example, RAKUS could work with other university hospitals to compose an institution that would procure medicines for them and regional hospitals, said Staņēvičs.
He explained that for the last two years RAKUS procured medicines worth a total of EUR 19.7 million. For the next two years, however, the procured medicines are worth EUR 26 million, nearly 32% more.
According to him, the impact of the increase in the number of patients on the price increase is only 3%, which can also be explained by more efficient work. At the same time, restrictions on the procurement of medicines must be taken into account, he added.
The head of the hospital also predicted that the situation next year will be very dubious, because expenses will go up, but revenue will not. Solutions will have to be found together with the Ministry of Health, including the need to talk about prioritising patients and possibly creating new ranks, said Staņēvičs.