The adjustment will take place twice in 2024; Those who suffer the most are people who depend on the continuous use of drugs
The year has just begun and there are already more adjustments on the way. The drug price increase, which occurs every year with the authorization of the federal government, will arrive in early April and is expected to be around 4.5%, based on the increase in the consumer price index, l ‘HICP.
This adjustment is in addition to the adjustment to the Goods and Services Tax, ICMS, which is regulated by each State. And in the midst of many acronyms there is the consumer, who will be affected twice over.
“Even though it is an adjustment that happens every year, no one is willing to spend more, this is the great truth. And those who suffer the most are always those who need continuous medications, such as medications for blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and many others. And there is nothing to be done, the best solution is always to search for prices,” says Paulo Vion, CEO of the Consulta Remédios (CR) platform.
Again according to Vion, a simple survey can lead to savings of over 80%.
“Today there is a great facilitator which is digital purchasing. We must learn to use this tool to our advantage. And of course doing research on the Internet is much easier than jumping from pharmacy to pharmacy,” she explains.
Research is always the best way out
And this is precisely why more and more healthcare platforms and technologies are investing in this difference. This is the case of Consulta Remédios itself, a pharmaceutical product retail platform that has invested in this functionality. A simple search on the platform’s price comparator shows that Losartan, for example, one of the most popular drugs for the treatment of hypertension, has a price range ranging from R$19 to R$91.
It is also important that consumers are aware of possible abuses in the pricing of medicines.
“This annual adjustment, authorized by the federal government and regulated by the Medicines Regulatory Chamber, CMED, is a suggestion for a maximum increase value. In other words, pharmacies can increase up to this value. Some chains end up abusing this increase and it is important that consumers are aware of this,” says Vion.
“Today the consumer has a range of possibilities that go from simply searching for prices to signing up for social programs. An important tip is to look for generic medicines, since these medicines, for example, are always cheaper and have the same effectiveness. For those who use drugs against hypertension, diabetes, asthma, the Farmácia Popular program is also an alternative,” says Vion.
“However, price increases are not limited to these cases, many medicines that still have active patents are exclusive to pharmaceutical companies. In this case, price research is the best option to spend less,” he concludes.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
