Drug prices are rising sharply: health insurance companies reveal price drivers

Health insurance companies demand reform

Prices for medicines are rising sharply

The treatment costs for common diseases have risen massively in ten years. Patent-protected medicines are primarily to blame for this.

According to Barmer, drug treatment of common diseases such as asthma and heart failure has increased significantly in recent years. The health insurance company announced on Wednesday that the main cost drivers were expenses for patent-protected medicines Berlin based on an evaluation of data from their insured persons.

Between 2014 and 2024, Barmer’s total spending on the treatment of heart failure with medication increased by 121 percent to 441 million euros, and for bronchial asthma by 80 percent to 516 million euros. In particular, spending on patent-protected drugs for the treatment of heart failure increased disproportionately during this period.

According to the fund, the increase in treatment costs for common diseases is primarily due to drug prices and less to an increase in the number of sick people. During the study period, the number of patients treated with heart failure increased by only 14 percent and those with bronchial asthma by three percent.

Statutory health insurance companies have long criticized the high costs of patent-protected medicines. According to Barmer boss Christoph Straub, the report once again shows an “urgent need for political action”. What is needed is further development of the benefit assessment of new preparations and “fair pricing”.