Brazil March Price Rise to Be Only One This Year

Brazilian drug regulator Anvisa has insisted that an inflation-linked retail price rise scheduled to be implemented at the end of the month will be the only one this financial year. The rise will include generics, but it has been reported that patented drugs which have generic alternatives will rise by up to 1.5% above the general rate of increase.

About 96% of the 6,000 products on Brazil's drug market are subject to price controls, with only the most basic medicines and "alternative" therapies such as homeopathy exempt. Officials have continued to insist that the stiffer rise for branded medicines is part of efforts to encourage access to cheaper medicines, although the likely development is clearly to the advantage of the generics-based local sector.