Spain has done away with free drug prescriptions, which until now have made the country the second-highest consumer of pharmaceutical products in Europe. Also ending is free healthcare to foreigners traveling or living in Spain.
These are two of the main measures that the Ministry of Health agreed to yesterday with Spanish regional governments during the Inter-territorial Council on the National Healthcare System. The measures are part of broader healthcare reforms that aim to save seven billion euros, or ten percent of what regional governments collectively spend on healthcare annually.
Retired people on pension will be able to get a ten percent credit on prescriptions at pharmacies, but savings will max out at between eight and eighteen euros per month, depending on what the person earns in pension. "This reform tactic will ensure that Spain avoids instituting healthcare copays and that medical aid for Spanish citizens continues to be free," said health minister Ana Mato. The Government will approve the packet of reform measures on Friday when the Cabinet meets. The reform will include greater private participation that defrays spending on drugs and reforms to increase the efficiency and decrease how much the government spends on drugs for citizens and healthcare for foreigners traveling or living in Spain.
The bulk of healthcare spending cuts will apply to prescription drugs. The Ministry intends to cut between 3.0 and 3.5 billion euros in spending that, between individual prescriptions and drugs provided to hospitals and clinics, is currently around 17 billion euros per year.
