Pharmaceutical expenditure fell in July, a 30% compared with the same month of 2011 and the number of prescriptions by 18%.

-The average prescription expenditure dropped last month by 14% compared to the same month of 2011

– compared to the month of June, spending on prescriptions of the Comunidad de Madrid fell 42%

– 10% of the Community budget goes to the drugs payment

Madrid, August 2012.- with the entry into force of the new system of user contribution to pharmacy18% less recipes over the same month of 2011, were issued in the community of Madrid in the month of July, which has resulted in a decrease of 30% in pharmaceutical expenditure. In July of this year spending on prescriptions was 73 million compared to the 103 July 2011, as announced today the Health Minister, Javier Fernández-Lasquetty.

In addition, the average expenditure per recipe in the community of Madrid fell last month by 14% compared to the same month of 2011. In this way, the average prescription expenditure last month was 10.16 EUR 11.81 euros in July 2011.

Also, the Counselor explained, in the first seven months of the year the pharmaceutical expenditure decreased by 6% compared to the same period of the previous year. While between January and July, 2012 the pharmaceutical Bill was 705.175.484,22 euros, expenditure was 750.494.495 euros in the same period of 2011. This decrease in the pharmaceutical Bill has been due to the entry into force of the new system of user contribution to the pharmacy, as well as other cost containment measures.

The Counselor explained that figures of descent of pharmaceutical spending in the month of July have a provisional character, since during the summer, the number of people who come to health centres drops, as well as the consumption of drugs.

Also, pharmaceutical spending in the month of July fell by 42 per cent from June. Thus in July pharmacy invoice was 72.625.767 euros, while spending in the month of June was 125.331.004 euros. However, should take into account that in June the pharmaceutical expenditure suffered a resurgence as a result of the entry into force of the new system of user contribution to the pharmacy.

Two billion euros in medicine

Also, the month of July the number of prescribed recipes dropped 62% over the month of June. Last month a total of 7.148.547 prescriptions was prescribed in the community of Madrid.

In 2011 the Madrid spent nearly 1.25 billion payment of drugs prescription as well as another 700 million to the hospital pharmacy. In total, expenditure on medicines of 2011 was almost 2 billion, representing 10% of the total budget of the community of Madrid.