Woman Shocked by Price Jump for "Anaprilin 40 mg" at Latvian Pharmacy

A woman in Latvia has described on Facebook how she ran into a much higher price for the prescription drug "Anaprilin 40 mg" at a pharmacy. She says such increases hit people who must take medication every day particularly hard. The case relates to the prescription drug price reform that took effect in Latvia on 1 January 2025, aimed at making these medicines more affordable.

The woman's account

She says a pack of 50 tablets recently cost about 4.50–5 euros, but she was now asked to pay 11.98 euros. She claims the increase is confirmed by data from the State Agency of Medicines. She asks what happened to promises of lower drug prices and stresses that the rise is a heavy financial blow for chronic patients.

What the reform provided

The reform changed the pricing model for medicines: wholesaler and pharmacy mark-ups were cut, and a separate fee for the pharmacist's service was introduced. The Ministry of Health had explained that the prices of the most expensive prescription drugs would fall by roughly 15–20 percent, while the cheapest medicines, with an average price of up to five euros, might become more expensive.

In an evaluation published in 2026, the ministry reported that of 3,635 prescription drugs with a declared manufacturer price, the maximum allowed pharmacy price fell for 3,285, or about 90 percent. It rose for 344, or 9.5 percent, and stayed the same for six. The data refer to the maximum permitted price, not the actual price paid in each purchase.

State support since 1 July

From 1 July 2026 the state covers the 75-cent pharmacist service fee for certain prescription drugs costing no more than ten euros per pack. This applies to non-reimbursed drugs and those with 75 percent reimbursement, but it does not lower the price of the medicine itself.

Why prices differ

The price may depend on the manufacturer's price, the pharmacy's price and whether state reimbursement applies. If a drug has become much more expensive, a patient can ask the pharmacy whether another medicine with the same active substance is available. Patients should not change medicines or doses on their own, and should consult a doctor or pharmacist about alternatives.