Government seeks 15-year transition period on EU pharmaceutical law

The Ministry of Health decided to table the draft motion largely due to the issue of market exclusiveness among medicines. Under EU law, any original drug registered after 2006 would be protected from the production of substitutes for a period of ten years. "It means reducing the availability of cheaper substitute drugs. It may result in the lower use of medicines as expenses will rise," a government statement announced. However, the draft motion would not please innovative companies, which support the EU regulations. As they bear the costs of developing new drugs, they feel they have the right to have their profits protected regardless of public health issues. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 3) D.W.