Financial implications of the changes

As of 15 November 2010, the expenses for the individual patient for cardiovascular products (antihypertensives) will be unchanged or lower, depending on whether the treatment is changed to a cheaper medicinal product. For the regions, the medical expenses will be lower.

For one individual patient who switches from a treatment with an expensive angiotensin II antagonist to losartan or an inexpensive ACE inhibitor, the average annual savings (for region and patient) will exceed DKK 2,000. If, in future, you are to undergo treatment with another, but less expensive medicinal product, the change could take place naturally in connection with a routine visit to the general practitioner over the coming five months.

Overall, we estimate the savings for patients and the public sector to amount to approx. DKK 300 million per year, even if the change requires extra consultations to check blood pressure.

Experts estimate that, in addition to all the patients already undergoing treatment, additionally approx. 300,000 people ought to undergo treatment for hypertension. Furthermore, some of the people undergoing treatment today are being treated insufficiently. There are a number of reasons for this, but the money saved could be advantageously used to correct undertreatment in Denmark.

For further information, please contact Head of Department for Reimbursement Karen Kolenda on tel. +45 4488 9348.

Danish Medicines Agency, 14 June 2010