Drug companies are blocking or delaying the entry of cheaper generic medicines into the EU, pushing up medicine bills, the European Commission has said. Their actions cost EU healthcare providers 3bn euros ($3.9bn; £2.5bn) in savings between 2000 and 2007, it said. It added that drug firms used legal action and multiple patents to stop rivals getting to market. Drug firms said the "perfectly lawful" measures were justified to protect investment in research and development.
Drug companies are blocking or delaying the entry of cheaper generic medicines into the EU, pushing up medicine bills, the European Commission has said.
Their actions cost EU healthcare providers 3bn euros ($3.9bn; £2.5bn) in savings between 2000 and 2007, it said.
It added that drug firms used legal action and multiple patents to stop rivals getting to market.
Drug firms said the "perfectly lawful" measures were justified to protect investment in research and development.
had cost health care providers around three billion euros ($3.9 billion) between 2000 and 2007.
BigPharma is only here for our benefit.
We have always been at war with EastHolistia. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
