BRUSSELS – Ninety percent of contraceptive pills will no longer be free of charge in Belgium from 1 January 2005.

Only the youngest customers will escape paying the full price, reported La Derniere Heure on Tuesday.

The decision came after strong pressure from the manufacturing industry on Social Affairs Minister Rudy Demotte and the justice minister.

The paper reports that the justice ministry did not have the legal means to oppose the industry’s demands to stop reimbursing the pill.

Observers believe the move was prompted by the rising price of the pill.

From 1 December 2004, the new rules will apply to the Cilest, Ovysmen and Trinovum brands of contraceptive pill.

From 1 January 2005, customers will have to pay for Femodene, Harmonet, Marvelon, Meliane, Mercilon, Microlut, Minulet, Neogynon 21, Ovidol, Tri-Minulet and Triodene.

Generic medicines existing for Mercilon and Marvelon, which account for one third of non-reimbursable medicines, will still be free.

The reimbursement of second generation pills like Microgynon, Trigynon and Trinordiol will continue.

Prices will rise by 20 percent for the reimbursable Cx category, and girls under 21 will benefit from a EUR 3 reduction every month.

An information note will be sent to general practitioners and gynaecologists later this week, to outline the new rules and encourage them to prescribe generic medicines.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news