Speaking to Today’s Zaman, Jeffrey Kemprecos, the Turkey director of the US company Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), also agrees with the pharmacists’ concerns. Reiterating that Turkey is not ready for such a change, Kemprecos said the government should take its time and listen to concerns voiced by pharmacy and producer unions. Underlining that the system could fail to run properly if necessary adjustments are not made in advance, Kemprecos also said foreign drug firms could be attracted if a healthy infrastructure is established to this end.
According to Kemprecos, the domestic market will likely experience serious problems, ranging from distribution to inventory, before it can fully adapt to the new system. Underlining that each country has its own market dynamics, he argued that the system would not be the best for Turkey under the current circumstances. “All the details and potential problems regarding the system must be weighed,” he said.
Making mention of the system in the US and in EU countries, he said nonprescription drugs are easily found in drugstores and in many ordinary shops, while prescription medicine can be bought in supermarket pharmacies under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Erdoğan also said the government expects to boost competition in the pharmacy sector with the new system. According to Kemprecos, reducing the cost of drugs as part of the new system is not a realistic target. A relatively larger young population, increased threats of various diseases and a green card system that ensures free medical coverage for Turks who have no social security coverage are potential obstacles, Kemprecos argued. He said the government could realize such a goal by preventing the removal of drugs from the market.
According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) data, health expenditures per person are $600 in Turkey, of which $150 is for drugs. In EU countries, the shares of average expenditures are $2,500 and $600, respectively.
Kemprecos said their company expects to embark on new investment strategies in the Turkish market if the new system is introduced. The total amount of money spent for drug research and development worldwide is $90 billion, while this amount is only $40 million in Turkey. He said they expect to increase this number to $1 billion by 2015, underlining that the Turkish market has much potential. “The important thing is to take necessary steps to make use of such potential,” he said.
