The local producers of generic drugs and the manufacturers of innovative medicines could soon start paying different taxes, based on how much money they consume from the public budget, if the clawback tax is amended, said Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu.

The new law on the clawback tax has now reached the Parliament and shall be discussed there, Banicioiu added, cited by local Mediafax. The Health Ministry, as well as the players on the local pharma market can express their opinions.

The amended form of the law on the clawback tax is based on the idea that each company should pay according to the money it receives from the state budget, said Banicioiu. Currently both the producers of generic drugs and those of innovative medicines are paying the same taxes.

The generic drug manufacturers are unhappy with the fiscal policies, saying that the sector has become unprofitable.

“There’s no profit for drugs under RON 30,” said Dragos Damian, president of the Romanian Generic Drug Manufacturer’s Association – APMGR. This has led to the disappearance of over 1,300 drugs from the market, over the last four years, he added.

He also said that Romania’s pharmaceutical industry has missed the opportunity to draw EUR 50 million investments, and had to restructure and lay off people.

editor@romania-insider.com