Taiwan Lawmakers Say Government Favors Pharmas In Flu Crisis
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Taiwan legislators accused the nation's health authorities of giving in to pharmaceutical companies and allowing sharp increases in flu antivirals. They said the sharp increases occurred after it was announced the National Health Insurance would cover the cost of prescriptions for Roche's Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Legislators said that following the announcement, the price of the drug increased by 18 percent. One lawmaker said the spike in the price amounts to nearly $23 million for the government. An NHI official said the threat of a pandemic has raised the market price of the drug significantly. (Click here for more