Varenicline and bupropion will be included in the pharmaceutical benefit, following the agreement reached in the Interministerial Price Commission and the resolution of the Ministry. "Smoking is the main preventable public health problem in developed countries, being a determining factor in numerous pathologies and the leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in our country and the rest of the countries around us," explained Carcedo.
An average of 51,870 premature deaths per year attributable to tobacco in Spain is estimated. The current trend shows a decrease in the case of men versus an increase in women. In the latter case, deaths from lung cancer have doubled in the last twenty years.
Comprehensive strategy
The minister recalled that the Ministry leads a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco consumption in Spain working, together with the autonomous communities, in the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of National system of health (SNS) And he stressed that "the financing of varenicline and bupropion is a support tool in the smoking cessation programs that are being developed."
Its prescription will be produced by electronic prescription in patients who are included in an individual and / or group support program and meet the established criteria: have express motivation to stop smoking verifiable with at least one attempt in the last year, smoking ten cigarettes or more up to date and have a high level of dependence, qualified by the Fagerström test ≥ 7.
The SNS will fund an annual attempt per patient to quit smoking. Each prescription will be made for one container, which is equivalent to one month of treatment. After that, the doctor, in the framework of the follow-up of the smoking cessation program, should assess the evolution of the effectiveness of the treatment prior to the issuance of the following prescription. The complete treatment lasts twelve weeks.
With this measure, around 83,800 people can benefit, with an estimated budget impact of 7.9 million euros in the first year.
The cost of the day treatment will be approximately 2.19 euros per person in the case of varenicline and 0.66 euros / day in the case of bupropion. If we consider a person with a pharmaceutical contribution of 40%, their contribution would be 0.87 euros / day in the case of varenicline and 0.26 euros in the case of bupropion.
In varenicline there will be a 30% decrease in the current price of the drug and in bupropion of 66% (monthly format). It should be noted that this price decrease will be maintained when citizens acquire these medicines out of financing.