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Spain drops the price on thousands of over-the-counter medications
The Ministry of Health in Spain estimates the changes will save patients around €287 million
There’s been some fantastic news this week for anyone buying medication in Spain. The Ministry of Health has announced price cuts on 17,385 different medicine presentations, generating savings of more than €287 million for patients.
The changes, published this Monday in the Official State Gazette, came into effect on Tuesday October 14.
The price reductions affect 13,871 products available in pharmacies and 3,514 drugs used in hospitals. The savings break down to €230.41 million on pharmacy medications and €57.17 million on hospital medicines.
The ministry has set a minimum reference price of €1.60 for each medication presentation. To ensure continued availability of vital treatments through the national health system, certain medications have been protected from any price changes. These include medicines classified as essential by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which cover priority health needs and must remain available at all times.
This protection affects 338 individual drugs.
When will you see the lower prices?
While pharmaceutical companies must supply medications at their new reduced prices from this Tuesday, there's a transition period for the rest of the supply chain.
Distributors can maintain previous sales prices for up to 20 calendar days, but pharmacies will start dispensing at the new lower prices from December 1, 2025.
What about commonly used medicines?
Here's what some of the most frequently purchased medications in Spain now cost:
- Nolotil is a painkiller for reducing pain or fever. A box of 20 capsules costs €2.26 including VAT.
- Paracetamol is an analgesic for pain or fever relief. A box of 20 one-gram tablets is priced at €1.90 including VAT.
- Lorazepam treats anxiety and insomnia. A box of 50 one-milligram capsules costs €1.72 including VAT.
- Enantyum (Dexketoprofen) is an anti-inflammatory for mild to moderate pain. A box of 20 capsules costs €2.50.
- Omeprazole is a gastric protector that treats reflux, ulcers, and gastritis by reducing stomach acidity. A box of 28 capsules costs €2.42.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (generic aspirin) averages €1.20 for 20 tablets.
- Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism. A box of 50 tablets costs €1.98.
- Tramadol is an opioid analgesic for severe pain. Twenty tablets cost €2.90.
- Amoxicillin is an antibiotic for bacterial infections. A box of 20 tablets costs €2.20.
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