A legislator yesterday said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has cut pharmaceutical drug prices too much and that a supply shortage is likely to ensue.
At a meeting of the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee in Taipei, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator and president of the Taiwan Medical Association Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉) said the ministry’s National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) has cut drug prices to the point that some pharmaceutical companies cannot sustain their business.
“By continuously cutting drug prices, the first generation antibiotics that were about NT$70, are now about NT$17 to NT$18, which is cheaper than a bottle of water,” Su said.
“How are pharmaceutical companies to survive like this? If they are not willing to produce a drug, then we will face a supply shortage,” Su said.
The price of oral iron supplements has also been cut from about NT$5 to NT$1, he said, adding that he has heard some foreign pharmaceutical companies are not willing to introduce new drugs to Taiwan before going to other countries, for fear that prices would be too low.
When high-quality drugs are forced to leave the nation’s market because of low revenues, patients become the victims — having to use generic drugs instead of brand-name drugs, or even facing supply shortages, he said.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chiang Been-huang (蔣丙煌) said that drugs account for about 25 percent of the NHIA annual budget of about NT$600 billion (US$18 million), and prices of new drugs might be higher, but they are still required, therefore, the budget for some older drugs is cut to purchase new drugs.
However, the NHIA monitors the supply and demand of drugs, to ensure a supply shortage does not happen, Chiang said, adding that, to his knowledge, several foreign pharmaceutical companies are still actively trying to enter Taiwan’s market.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
RSS