In the last two months of 2023, inflation climbed to 41.6%, and the retail prices of the medications most consumed by older people rose by 77.2%.
The ten medicines most consumed by older adults suffered increases above inflation on average with monthly increases of 83% and 45% in January while the basket of medicines rose 13.6%. This was revealed in a recent report by CEPA together with CEPPEMA and ALGEC.
The medication that increased the most wasl DERRUMAL 300 by 83% followed by DAFLON 500. The first is indicated for functional discomfort of osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis), while Daflon is for the relief of symptoms related to mild venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, two very common ailments in this age range.
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Medicines: how prices evolved at the end of 2023
In the last two months of the year 2023 inflation rose to 41.6%and the retail prices of the medications most consumed by older people, they rose by 77.2%. That is, in the last two months, medicines far exceeded the general increase in prices, that is, inflation.
This trend is mainly explained by the price behavior of the month of December, that is, the government of Javier Milei: Only in the last month of 2023, the medications most consumed by older people increased by an average of 40.9%.
It is worth highlighting some examples in which the price increase has been widely higher than said average:
• he Optamox Duo (broad-spectrum antibiotic) reached a 184% increase in the month of December; 7
• he Disrupt (drug prescribed for vascular disorders) 161%
• T4 Montpellier (used in thyroid ailments) and Clonagin (prescribed as an anxiolytic) registered 155%.
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Retirements: the problem of income
This disproportionate increase is part of a generalized context of deregulation and price increases during the month of December, which has a direct impact on the fall in purchasing power of income that older people receive, mostly through retirements and pensions. Taking into account that older people consume average five medications monthly, The increasing proportion that spending on medication represents for their income is notable.
Furthermore, the prospects regarding the recomposition of income are not at all encouraging, if one considers that in the first months of government of the new national administration Minimum retirement bonuses have not been increased. The January bonus was $55,000 and the February bonus will be for the same amount, ignoring the liquefaction of these amounts as a result of the 25.5% inflation in December 2023 and the January figure will be 25% according to the BCRA’s REM or closer to 20% considering the projections of private consulting firms.
Source: Ambito
