Abstract:

The Turkish drug industry has recently focused on domestic production for both generating revenue and controlling drug expenditures among health expenditures. The “domestic” production-oriented strategy of the Turkish drug industry is explained as affordability and accessibility along with production. Although the sector has gained momentum with its technology and production capacity, it has not reached the desired level in the field of competition with foreign companies. The reasons for this are fixed exchange rate regulation in drug prices, inability to focus on research and development and having very few production centers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the drug policies between 2011 and 2018 within the scope of domestic production, rational drug use, electronic prescription and drug tracking system. In this context, certain evaluations will be made regarding domestic-imported drug sales, drug expenditure rates in health expenditures, pharmacist distribution in terms of human resources, reimbursement coverage and uncovered drug distribution, current state of rational drug use, drug tracking system and electronic drug implementation. Within the scope of the study, a compilation covering the evaluation of secondary data obtained from the statistical annuals of the Ministry of Health was presented. In the research, publications in the literature review and pharmaceutical industry research reports were also used. Although domestic product production and consumption have been supported in recent years, price pressures in imported drug groups have not achieved the desired effect in the drug sector. Similar inefficiency can be seen in the application areas of rational drug policies. In order for the strategically important drug sector to create added value and contribute to the national economy, health policies that enable inter-sector integration are needed.