MERCK CASE
February 1st, 2005
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union (EU) governments must make a clear ruling within 180 days of a manufacturers' application for a medicine to eligible for refunds under a state health insurance scheme, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. In a case involving the Belgian government and Merck, the ECJ added that where a government missed this deadline, a company could not assume a positive decision. Merck was contesting Belgium's refusal to say whether Proscar could be supplied under its medical insurance scheme.
EUROPEAN Union (EU) governments must make a clear ruling within 180 days of a manufacturers' application for a medicine to eligible for refunds under a state health insurance scheme, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. In a case involving the Belgian government and Merck, the ECJ added that where a government missed this deadline, a company could not assume a positive decision. Merck was contesting Belgium's refusal to say whether Proscar could be supplied under its medical insurance scheme.
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