Öäk -Wutscher: Secure medication supply – perceive patient interests

On the occasion of the current discussion on the topic of medication, Edgar Wutscher, Vice President of the Austrian Medical Association and Federal Curium Chairman of the Resident Doctors, takes on pharmacies. “The Austrian pharmacies enjoy considerable protection from market access barriers: they have a monopoly position, area protection and protected prices. However, this restriction of the market can only be justified if the pharmacies can in return offer security of supply.” In my view Medicines are ensured, ”emphasizes Wutscher.

Adjustments necessary

“Nevertheless, there is fear that medication bottlenecks will accompany us for a long time. Politics must therefore adapt the health system in such a way that patients receive the best possible service at any time,” says Wutscher: “This means an expansion of medical house pharmacies and the dispensing law, i.e. the voluntary submission of medication directly in the ordination, for all doctors.” Doctors could also support the development of additional sales channels in Europe, which could currently be too bureaucratic or complicated for pharmacies.

It is absolutely necessary to ensure and guarantee the safe and continuous supply of the population with medication, says Wutscher. The state or the European Union is also required to finance the independence of supply chains: “This security in supply will cost money, which is clear. However, these investments are investments in long -term security of supply for the population – this is hardly high enough. Medicines have to be worth something again, especially in Austria,” says Wutscher.

However, this also includes that tendencies that mean a risk to medication security must be counteracted. For Wutscher, this also includes the delivery of active ingredient medication through the prescription of the active ingredient or “Aut idem” regulation: “If patients are constantly confronted with new medication, this leads to confusion that medication and duplication can occur.” Ultimately, patients are fundamentally unsettled when taking medication. “Here we want to provide doctors for security of care with medication for the patients our contribution and our expertise,” says Wutscher.