People's analysis: to "contain bribe" price drugs moving blade

Wang Zhuoming

July 17, 2013

Source: People's Daily

        Behind the drug prices artificially high and contains inappropriate, or even the cost of illegal, must raise a sword Pierce

        Public security departments for GSK (China) investment co., LTD. Investigation is not over, it caused a shock in foreign pharmaceutical industry. Released from the relevant authorities, glaxosmithkline, through a travel agency, use the opportunity of meeting reception, inflated meeting attendance even fiction, from "normal" entertainment expenses buckles money, part of the rebate for GSK senior, others to the medical institutions and relevant departments to provide commercial bribery.

        From a previous exposure of the case look, like glaxosmithkline practices are not uncommon. If there is an opportunity to each big tourist city airport to have a look, will find that pick up the hall was filled with the receptionist from drug companies, most of them come to pick up the doctor or officials to participate in the "meeting". And these more in the name of the academic meetings, along with tourism and leisure and directly to the doctor some cash, actually there is only one objective: asked the doctor to open some medicine.

        Industry is often jokingly said that the drug prices now is "bribe". He is ugly, but after years of market operation, there are a lot of drugs in the drug prices share the part cost. Accident the GSK executives will admit that, for the cost of promotion and rebates account for 20% of the total price - 30%. And judgment according to the personage inside course of study, glaxosmithkline, this proportion is not high. Previous research has found that every link after the "bright dark buckle buckle" the highest proportion, even accounted for about 50% of the total price. In this industry in the "hidden rules", many pharmaceutical companies are competing for the market, often doing all they can, thus forming a vicious circle, make serious artificially high prices come up.

        Drug sales behind in a mess, exposes some of China's pharmaceutical market weakness. For instance, some medical workers tend to "money" is serious, and hospital compensation system is not flexible,, in the interests of the enterprise for its good one lure professionals in medical institutions of unfair competition and even illegal behaviors, some of the medical staff is likely to take risks, "interests" together, directly, indirectly, driving up prices. From this Angle, remove the "medicine for cure" disease, is not only necessary, but also should speed up their strength.

        Objective said, multinational drug companies r&d strength is generally higher than that of domestic enterprises, some innovative drug is treating patients needed, also accord with market rules and high prices. Glaxosmithkline case remind us again, however, behind the high price, also contain inappropriate, even the illegal cost. Must lift up a sword Pierce artificially high.

        Regulation of foreign capital now high drug prices more comes at a time when two big opportunities. One is domestic enterprises gradually enhance its capability of research and development, after years of infighting, emerge a batch of close to the level of domestic enterprises, foreign and domestic new drugs are already can to a certain extent, variety. Second, with the deepening of the reform, gradually promote the reform of public hospitals will be tough, to reform and eliminate, the crux of the gradual exposure of pharmaceutical commercial bribery the knife.

        Just last month, the national development and reform commission, the organization cost of pharmaceutical enterprises, involving a large number of foreign companies. The relevant person in charge of development and reform commission (NDRC) revealed that will contrast with these drugs and foreign drugs prices, guiding its selling price in China. Cost investigation and price comparison, may in the near future into actual policy. Not condone doing business by illegal means, in Chinese companies, whether domestic or foreign. Because of a competitive market, but also is bound to be a fair market.

        The People's Daily (July 17, 2013, 05 version)

(this site editor Wang Zhong one)