OBJECTIVES : Generic competition is an important health policy tool for regulating the pharmaceutical market. Drug group HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase), widely known as “statins” was the first drug group in Hungary where generic prescription became mandatory. Our aim is to analyze the change of the retail and wholesale margins through the generic competition of the HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitor „statins”.

METHODS : Data derived from the nationwide pharmaceutical database of Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration, the only health care financing agency in Hungary. We observed the turnover data of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors „statins“ from 2011 to 2015. As the drugs under revew have a fixed price in Hungary, we could calculate the margins.

RESULTS : The retail margins decreased from 1,48 million USD (September, 2011) to 0,69 million USD (December, 2015). The wholesale margins decreased from 0,4 million USD (September, 2011) to 0,16 million USD (December, 2015). The biggest downturn in margins was caused by the introduction of the first two blind bids in October 2011 and April 2012. The first blind bid caused a 17% decrease, the second caused an another 17%. The combined DOT turnover of the examined 43 products increased continuously over the period under review.

CONCLUSIONS : The blind bid procedures were introduced during the period under review. The decline in small and wholesale margins was caused by a reduction in the consumer price of medicines.