Spain discusses healthcare "overspend" on pharma:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Spanish government has spoken of the need to redirect funds earmarked for pharmaceuticals to "other priorities", in light of the continued growth in regional healthcare spending on drugs. A government report on the subject was at the centre of this week's discussions between the health ministry and the interregional council (Consejo Interterritorial) of the national healthcare system (SNS), in Bilbao. The report, according to El Pais, highlights a 23% rise in national spending on drugs to treat cardiovascular disease in 2003 - a major contributor to the 3% rise in drugs reimbursement during the last decade, to 93% of the total pharmaceutical spend.