The Interministerial Commission on Drug Prices, a collegiate body of the Ministry of Health of which other ministries and autonomous communities are part, will limit today the maximum price of antigen tests in the pharmacy.
The Commission will meet in an extraordinary meeting starting at 10 am to set a maximum price for antigen test, which since before Christmas chains weeks of maximum sales due to the escalation of coronavirus cases, which has stressed the market to the point of being reflected in its cost.
If it has not been done before, according to the Executive, it is because before the problem of shortages had to be solved.
“The debate we had before or during this Christmas has been, above all, about the offer of these antigen tests; there was an exponential increase in demand but not in supply. This issue is now resolved; now we will get to control the price of the pharmacy antigen test, “said Pedro Sánchez when announcing this measure last Monday.
According to the consumer association Facua, the lack of these antigen tests has led to price increases of up to one hundred percent; Through the analysis of 150 pharmacies in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia and Vitoria, he found prices that ranged between 4.95 and 10 euros.
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calvin -one of the departments that are part of the Interministerial- said yesterday that the intention is lower the price of antigen tests “as much as possible because it is a basic necessity”, although “the communities have different approaches.”
“Now is the time, it is necessary to set prices. I have bought at 7-8 euros and it cannot be. In addition to the reduction in VAT, we have to make sure that producers and intermediaries do not have extraordinary benefits.”
The PP has asked that the price it sets be 2 euros and that the gratuitousness of these tests be considered for those who cannot pay them due to their income level, while Ciudadanos would applaud the liberalization of the sale of antigen tests in supermarkets at a price of between 2 or 3 euros.
Selling liberalization is not on the table
From the Executive they maintain that the liberalization of the sale is not on the table, first of all, for a security issue.
But the big distribution chains like Alcampo, Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Ikea or MediaMarkt insist on offering to sell antigen tests to facilitate its distribution among citizens and help combat the tsunami of infections derived from omicron.
According to the National Association of Large Distribution Companies (Anged), which also groups Apple Retail, Bricomart, C&A, Conforama, Costco, Eroski, FNAC, Leroy Merlin, Tendam, Toys`R`Us, Sarton, Worten and Dufry, this measure “would allow the massive distribution of antigen test and substantially lower the price. ”
While, The General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges has applauded that the price is finally limited because it will end “excessive” increases in cost and the tensions in the market of which these professionals have also been “victims”.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.