Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06WARSAW1223
2006-06-21 13:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
POLAND: Health Ministry Moves Forward on Foreign
how-tonull Anne W McNeill 10/20/2006 02:51:20 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS WARSAW 01223 SIPDIS CXWARSAW: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL ADM MGT ORA FCS DCM AMB PAS DISSEMINATION: ECOX CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: ECON:RRORVIG DRAFTED: ECON:DMBIRDSEY CLEARED: ECON: VZCZCWRI757 RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHKW RUEHBS DE RUEHWR #1223 1721338 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211338Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1087 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC INFO RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 1155 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS WARSAW 001223
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE/MSESSUMS
STATE PASS USTR FOR DONNELLY/ERRION
COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/MROGERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: Health Ministry Moves Forward on Foreign
Drug Price Cuts
UNCLAS WARSAW 001223
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE/MSESSUMS
STATE PASS USTR FOR DONNELLY/ERRION
COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/MROGERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: Health Ministry Moves Forward on Foreign
Drug Price Cuts
1. (SBU) According to a pharmaceutical LAWG group member,
the Ministry of Health has published its ordinances for
cutting official prices for imported pharmaceuticals by 13
percent. The ordinances were published in the Polish
language Journal of Law no. 101, on 19 June 2006. The
publication of the ordinances is the formal next step
required to implement the draft regulations on July 1.
--------------
Inter-Ministerial Issues?
--------------
2. (SBU) The published ordinances themselves do not contain
language regarding the price cuts. However, they reference
the "amending . . . [of] the level of payment" (i.e. the 13
percent price cut) for drugs. The Ministry's letter to the
Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies
reinforces this message (we understand Washington agencies
have received this response from PhRMA). Econoff spoke to
Krzystof Januszek (protect),head of the WTO Unit at the
Ministry of Economy, about the latest developments.
Interestingly, he said that the Ministry had sent a letter
to Piecha urging consultations not only with the affected
foreign industry, but also WITH THE MINSITRY OF ECONOMY (his
emphasis). Although he was sufficiently discreet about the
contents of the Ministry's letter, his assessment of the
price cut issue does not appear to differ dramatically with
our talking points. Januszek added, however, that Piecha
and the Ministry of Health "did not respond to the Economic
Ministry's letter, not even with a phone call or an email."
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) There may be an opportunity for the USG to exploit
the apparent gap between the trade authorities and the
Health Ministry. But any enthusiasm for this approach
should be tempered with the awareness that principals in the
Ministry of Health seem not to care what anyone else thinks.
ASHE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE/MSESSUMS
STATE PASS USTR FOR DONNELLY/ERRION
COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/MROGERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: Health Ministry Moves Forward on Foreign
Drug Price Cuts
1. (SBU) According to a pharmaceutical LAWG group member,
the Ministry of Health has published its ordinances for
cutting official prices for imported pharmaceuticals by 13
percent. The ordinances were published in the Polish
language Journal of Law no. 101, on 19 June 2006. The
publication of the ordinances is the formal next step
required to implement the draft regulations on July 1.
--------------
Inter-Ministerial Issues?
--------------
2. (SBU) The published ordinances themselves do not contain
language regarding the price cuts. However, they reference
the "amending . . . [of] the level of payment" (i.e. the 13
percent price cut) for drugs. The Ministry's letter to the
Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies
reinforces this message (we understand Washington agencies
have received this response from PhRMA). Econoff spoke to
Krzystof Januszek (protect),head of the WTO Unit at the
Ministry of Economy, about the latest developments.
Interestingly, he said that the Ministry had sent a letter
to Piecha urging consultations not only with the affected
foreign industry, but also WITH THE MINSITRY OF ECONOMY (his
emphasis). Although he was sufficiently discreet about the
contents of the Ministry's letter, his assessment of the
price cut issue does not appear to differ dramatically with
our talking points. Januszek added, however, that Piecha
and the Ministry of Health "did not respond to the Economic
Ministry's letter, not even with a phone call or an email."
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) There may be an opportunity for the USG to exploit
the apparent gap between the trade authorities and the
Health Ministry. But any enthusiasm for this approach
should be tempered with the awareness that principals in the
Ministry of Health seem not to care what anyone else thinks.
ASHE