After several pharmacies in Germany received a message from the Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato that 13,000 euros will soon have to be paid in advance for a monthly dose of „Orkambi“ on behalf of the biopharmaceutical company Vertex, based in Boston, USA, some pharmacists were horrified and angered. Orkambi is a very expensive drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients aged two years and older with a congenital genetic defect that has severe effects on the lungs and digestive system. The manufacturer Vertex, which also has 30 employees in Germany, in Munich, and produces preparations in the price segment between 6,000 and 16,000 euros, which are not available through normal wholesalers, has now clarified that this was a misunderstanding. Normally pharmacists do not have to pay in advance, but can simply settle the invoice for the drug once the preparation has been dispensed to the patient. Two pharmacists from Dresden and from Neubrandenburg were upset about the dubious and unethical business practices of the manufacturer Vertex. The company’s management is now making it clear that future orders for sick patients will continue to be issued with pro-forma invoices that must be paid after the order has been placed and subsequent shipment, but without advance payment. However, in some cases, the manufacturer checks the creditworthiness of pharmacies that are not long-term partners. In other cases, Vertex applies the time-honoured principle of long-term payment security, because we want to act in the best interest of our patients. One of the outraged pharmacists has already thought about rejecting a patient who would then have to be referred to another pharmacy. However, Vertex is committed to providing optimal care for fibrosis sufferers.
Source: apotheke-adhoc.de