Heidrun Irschik-Hadjieff, head of Sanofi Germany, expressed openness to a moderate increase in the manufacturer’s discount on prescription drugs, stating in a POLITICO podcast that she could foresee an increase of two or three percentage points.
This discussion centers on the GKV-BStabG (Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Stabilization Act), which is planned by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU). This legislation proposes to supplement the general 7% manufacturer’s discount with a dynamic component linked to the ratio of drug expenditures to the development of contribution-mandated income. Minister Warken justified the move by saying, “Solid finances are the necessary foundation for sustainable stability.” According to the GKV-BStabG, this measure is expected to save the health insurance funds approximately €1.1 billion in 2027 and around €5.5 billion by 2030.
Irschik-Hadjieff noted that while a dynamic manufacturer’s discount is like a crystal ball, long-term planning is crucial for investment. “We don’t make investments short-term, but rather medium- to long-term. Therefore, we want a framework-framework conditions-that allows us better planning ability,” she stated.
She further argued that the pharmaceutical sector is the only industry that “repays such a manufacturer’s rebate to the funds,” questioning why similar demands are not made in other sectors. Citing an analogy, Irschik-Hadjieff said, “It is hard to understand why similar demands are not made in other industries. You could ask the car industry for a tax on combustion engines as a penalty. That is not the case.” She also pointed out that last year, the pharmaceutical industry contributed €29 billion in rebates toward stabilizing the healthcare system.
Currently, the GKV-BStabG is under debate in the Bundestag. According to POLITICO, the ruling coalition plans to keep the manufacturer’s rebate stable but raise it from 7% to 15.5%, specifying that this new rate would be unlimited.
