Source: Folha Online – SP
Date: 08/11/2017
By: Maria Cristina Frias – Columnist
Chronicle of the Economy
Sales of generic drugs for chronic diseases grew by an average of 19% in the first half of this year.
The data, which covers medications for hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol, is from IMS Health and Progenéricos (industry association).
Greater access to medicines has helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and mortality from these diseases in the country, according to Michele Lessa of the Ministry of Health.
"The monitoring has started earlier," he says.
Hospitalizations for diabetes and hypertension in the SUS fell by 19% between January 2016 and May of this year.
During the same period, sales of medicines for these diseases in pharmacies rose by 25.4%, according to Nelson Mussolini, president of Sindusfarma (an industry association).
Generic drugs drove this increase: in the case of hypertension, the share rose from 63% in 2015 to the current 69%.
"People did not stop treating themselves, but opted for cheaper medicines," says Telma Salles, president of Progenéricos.
See original: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/mercadoaberto/2017/08/1909034-acao-contra-pagamento-as-transmissoras-ganha-adesoes.shtml