In response to reforms to drug reimbursement pricing aiming to foster the development of domestic drug manufacturing, the International Research-Based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IRPMA) on August 16 recommended that the proposed reforms take into consideration internationally accepted principles and whether they will lead to trade barriers. IRPMA also called for stronger patent protection and for authorities to establish predictable drug reimbursement pricing policies, while also voicing its opposition of Taiwan referencing of the lowest pricing found in the A10 countries.

Professor Lee Su-hua of National Taiwan University’s College of Law said that the management of Taiwan’s drug pricing policies should consider market realities faced by the industry.  She said that drug pricing policies have long been unfavorable to the introduction of new drugs and detrimental to the stability of the drug supply chain. To address this, she suggested increasing investments in healthcare. Professor Lee also said that offering preferential pricing, at the same rate as imported originators, for drugs containing Taiwan-manufactured APIs and domestic generic drugs, could potentially violate the national treatment principle as outlined in WTO agreements.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Lin Ching-yi said that while the drug pricing reforms are geared towards promoting the domestic drug industry and stabilizing the supply of drugs, policy makers will continue to communicate with stakeholders for the careful implementation of the said reforms to improve the resilience of domestic drug supply.

[2024-8-9/ Up Media]