Expenditure related to medical care in France increased by 2.2% in 2013 but remains lower than that observed at the beginning of the 2000s. Only the consumption of drugs fell.
Expenditure related to medical care in France represented 186.7 billion in 2013, or 2,843 euros per capita, up 2.2% compared to 2012, according to the national health accounts published on Monday by the Drees (1). In this report, which annually assesses all expenditure in the health sector, and in particular the consumption of medical goods and services (CSBM), only the consumption of drugs is down, for the second consecutive year.
Falling prices, moderate volume growth
In value, drug consumption fell by 1.3% in 2013, after having recorded a drop of 1.2% in 2012. To explain this phenomenon, the DREES indicates that it is the result of a further decrease in prices drugs and moderate volume growth.
“It is linked to the significant price reductions implemented in 2012-2013, to the generation of highly consumed specialties and to the strengthening of the” third-party payment against generics “measure from July 2012. The significant expansion of the repertoire of generics in 2011 also contributed to the drop in prices observed in 2012 and then in 2013 ”, specifies the management.
The share of generics is increasing
When they can replace originator drugs, generics see their market share increase: the share of generics in all reimbursable drugs has thus increased from 4.1% in value in 2002 to 18.1% in 2013.
Finally, the number of therapeutic classes that include generic drugs has continued to increase: it went from 64 in 2002 to 116 in 2013, out of a total of 350 therapeutic classes. When they can replace originator drugs, generics see their market share increase (the generic substitution rate stood at 82% at the end of 2013 against 76% at the end of 2011).
Consumption of non-reimbursable drugs is also falling
In addition, for the first time, the consumption of non-reimbursable drugs also fell by 1.8% in 2013, whereas it had been increasing steadily since 2005, in particular due to the delisting of specialties with low or insufficient medical benefit.
“Despite this drop in volumes, French consumption in 2012, measured in standard units per inhabitant, is 22% higher than that observed in neighboring countries”, however qualifies the Drees.
(1) (1) Department of research, studies, evaluation and statistics
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