Who Will Be Able to Avoid Paying the Pharmacist: New Rules Are Being Prepared in Latvia 0 12

The amendments stipulate that the fee for the pharmacist's service will be fully covered by the state budget when purchasing non-reimbursed prescription medications with a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros, as well as 75% reimbursed prescription drugs with such a price. The draft specifies that the price of up to 10 euros means the amount including 10 euros. The benefit will also extend to pregnant women and women up to the 70th day of the postpartum period when purchasing reimbursed medications from list M for the corresponding diagnoses with a 25% reimbursement and a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros.

In turn, for people with first-group disabilities, full coverage of the fee for the pharmacist's service from the state budget is provided when purchasing any prescription medications.

To implement the new benefits in pharmacies, improvements to the electronic medical system are necessary. The introduction of benefits for the payment of the pharmacist's service for prescription medications with a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros is planned for July 1 of this year. Full coverage of this fee for people with first-group disabilities when purchasing prescription medications, including those reimbursed by the state, is planned for September 1.

Currently, the fee for the pharmacist's service of 0.75 euros is paid by the purchaser of the medications, while the remaining amount is reimbursed to the pharmacy by the National Health Service (NVD) from the state budget. In cities, the state covers 75 cents, while in less populated areas — 1.75 euros.

The Ministry explains that the aim of the changes is to increase the accessibility of prescription medications and reduce personal expenses for residents on medications, especially for expectant and young mothers, as well as socially vulnerable groups.

At the same time, it is planned to maintain the patient-paid portion of the pharmacist's service at 75 cents for patients purchasing medications that are 100% reimbursed by the state. The ministry notes that this is necessary to increase patient responsibility and adherence to treatment regimens.

The draft rules also stipulate that from September 1, residents of Ukraine will no longer have the fee for the pharmacist's service fully covered when purchasing prescription medications. In the future, they will have to pay the patient share of 75 cents, just like other residents of Latvia. The remaining part of the fee will continue to be covered by the National Health Service.

Residents of Ukraine will be subject to the same benefits for the payment of the pharmacist's service as other residents of Latvia. The ministry explains that the situation with Ukrainian citizens in Latvia has stabilized, and it is necessary to ensure equal access to state medical services.

At the beginning of the war, amid a massive influx of people, residents of Ukraine were exempted from patient co-payment to facilitate their access to medical care. The ministry emphasizes that they will continue to retain the right to receive state-paid medical services in the same manner and volume as those insured in Latvia.

To implement the measures provided for in the draft, 3,821,312 euros will be required in 2026, and 7,793,747 euros annually from 2027 onwards. The majority of this amount is intended to cover the fee for the pharmacist's service for prescription medications with a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros.

Of this amount, 3,670,193 euros are allocated for this year, and 7,340,387 euros annually from 2027 onwards for the full coverage of the pharmacist's service fee for patients purchasing non-reimbursed prescription medications with a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros, as well as for patients purchasing 75% reimbursed medications with such a price. This amount also includes coverage for pregnant women and women up to the 70th day of the postpartum period when purchasing corresponding reimbursed medications from list M with a 25% reimbursement and a pharmacy price of up to 10 euros.

For the full coverage of the pharmacist's service fee for individuals with first-group disabilities when purchasing prescription medications, including those reimbursed by the state, 151,119 euros will be required in 2026, and 453,360 euros annually from 2027 onwards.

The amendments also provide for a reduction in the administrative burden for drug manufacturers. In the future, information about the selling price of the drug in Latvia will need to be provided once a year instead of twice. This does not eliminate the obligation to declare the price when it changes. According to the ministry's calculations, the administrative costs for manufacturers and distributors will decrease by 7,956.96 euros per year.

Additionally, the project provides for clarification of the notification periods for changes in drug prices. In the future, the State Agency of Medicines will need to be informed of new prices five working days before their introduction, instead of seven days. In certain cases, the 15-day period is planned to be reduced to 10 working days.

As reported, from January 1, 2025, a new model for forming drug prices came into effect in Latvia, which includes fixed markups for wholesalers and pharmacies, as well as the introduction of a fee for the pharmacist's service at the initial dispensing of a prescription and the issuance of medications.