[The effect of generic price competition on drug consumption and health insurance pharmaceutical expenditures in Hungary].

AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze the Hungarian montelukast sodium drug market. We examined the effect of the appearance of generic drugs on the price and turnover of the brand-name drug, Singulair.

DATA AND METHODS: Data derived from the nationwide pharmaceutical database of Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration (2007-2014). We analized the turnover and price of the medicaments containing the active substance montelukast sodium. Accordingly our indicators were: consumer price, social insurance subsidy, patients' co-payment and days of treatment (DOT).

RESULTS: First the generics started from a significantly lower price of 18 USD which was lower than the price of brand-name Singulair (32 USD). Then the prices of the generics started to diminish. While in 2007 the DOT was below 2 million, it increased over 10 million days by 2014. The increase of DOT was followed by the increase of health insurance subsidy until 2011. Then the amount of health insurance subsidy decreased from 10,5 million USD to 7 million USD in 2012. In 2013 and 2014 there was a further reduction, the amount of the health insurance subsidy decreased to 4,1 million USD in 2013, and in 2014 it was reduced to 2.2 million USD.

CONCLUSIONS: Following the introduction of generic drugs, the price of the medicaments containing montelukast sodium was significantly reduced, while the days on treatment (DOT) increased. The patients' access to drugs containing montelukast sodium increased significantly. The annual health insurance subsidy was significantly reduced as well.