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Drug prices spiral out of control in hospitals
Last updated: 6/27/2010 15:00
Officials say drug prices at hospitals are now too high
Mismanagement of drug prices at local hospitals has placed a huge burden on patients and the national fund for social insurance, officials said Saturday.
Nguyen Duc Thu, an official of the National Assembly’s Office, said even though drug supply contracts at hospitals have gone through a bidding process, the prices of some drugs were 150-300 percent higher than their real prices.
Hong said his fund has to pay trillions of dong to cover medical treatment fees for policy holders and the biggest expense, 60 percent, was for drugs. This ratio is too high, compared to 45 percent in China, 38 percent in Indonesia and 35 percent in Thailand, he added.
Last updated: 6/27/2010 15:00
Officials say drug prices at hospitals are now too high
Mismanagement of drug prices at local hospitals has placed a huge burden on patients and the national fund for social insurance, officials said Saturday.
Nguyen Duc Thu, an official of the National Assembly’s Office, said even though drug supply contracts at hospitals have gone through a bidding process, the prices of some drugs were 150-300 percent higher than their real prices.
Hong said his fund has to pay trillions of dong to cover medical treatment fees for policy holders and the biggest expense, 60 percent, was for drugs. This ratio is too high, compared to 45 percent in China, 38 percent in Indonesia and 35 percent in Thailand, he added.
