The health system (GHS) will implement changes to pharmaceutical co-payments starting February 3, as part of an annual drug pricing review by the Ministry of Health.
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) announced that medication prices could either increase or decrease, affecting the amount citizens pay when obtaining prescriptions through the national health system.
Under the current system, the cheapest available drug in each category is fully reimbursed, with patients paying only a 1-euro co-payment per medication. For prescribed alternatives to the cheapest option, patients must pay the price difference, known as Contribution II.
The ministry’s annual price review could result in some medications losing their status as the cheapest option in their category, either due to price reductions of alternative drugs or the introduction of less expensive medications.
The HIO said citizens would be able to check the revised Contribution II payments for affected medicines on the GHS website, with an updated pharmaceutical products catalogue to be published soon.
Patients who find their medication costs have changed can switch to cheaper alternatives after consulting with their doctor, the organisation added.
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