From July 1, state to cover pharmacy service fee for cheaper prescription drugs
Starting July 1, Latvian residents purchasing prescription drugs costing no more than 10 euros per package will no longer have to pay the pharmacy service fee – the state will cover it in full. This support is part of a broader drug accessibility reform that has already reduced prescription drug prices by an average of 17%.
The Ministry of Health has announced that from July 1, 2025, the state will cover the pharmacy service fee (0.75 euros per prescription) for patients buying prescription drugs whose price per package does not exceed 10 euros. The support applies to non-reimbursed prescription drugs and drugs with 75% reimbursement, as well as to pregnant women and women up to 70 days after childbirth when purchasing certain drugs from the reimbursable list within this price category.
Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri emphasized that this step is part of targeted measures to improve medication accessibility. According to him, every euro invested in drug accessibility can yield up to seven euros in economic return – people end up in hospitals less often, maintain their ability to work longer, and live healthier lives. This reform follows the new prescription drug pricing model that came into effect on January 1, 2025. Initial results show that, analyzing the prices of the 200 most frequently prescribed drugs, their average price in pharmacies has decreased by 17% compared to the previous year; the most significant decline was observed for more expensive medications (above 10 euros).
As part of the reform evaluation, additional support was identified as necessary for the cheaper drug segment, where the pharmacy service fee constitutes a relatively larger share of the price. Therefore, from July, the state takes over this fee for prescription drugs up to 10 euros. Additionally, from September 1, the state will also cover the pharmacy service fee for people with Group I disability regardless of the drug price. The Ministry of Health encourages residents to take advantage of this support and reminds them of the importance of timely medication use.
