Hungary’s government has reached a voluntary agreement with the pharmaceutical sector to cap prices on 44 widely used medications, as part of its broader effort to fight unjustified price increases that affect families and pensioners. The move was announced by the Ministry for National Economy (NGM) on Tuesday.
The agreement covers 34 high-demand, non-prescription medicines sold at market-based prices, as well as ten prescription drugs not subsidized by the national health system. Pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, and pharmacies have committed to reducing the prices of these products to their 31 December 2024 levels and maintaining those prices through June 2026.
This cooperation follows similar voluntary price caps already introduced in the banking, telecom, and insurance sectors. The government emphasized that it will continue to intervene when unjustified price hikes pose a threat to consumer welfare—just as it has previously done with food and drugstore products.
The agreement was the result of intensive negotiations with key industry players, including the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM), the Hungarian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (MAGYOSZ), the Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, and the Hungarian Chamber of Pharmacists.
Among the products subject to the voluntary cap are well-known medications such as ACC Long, Algopyrin, Aspirin Protect, Canesten, Neo Citran, No-Spa, Voltaren, and Magne B6. The list includes both common cold remedies and speciality products for cardiovascular or gastrointestinal use.
‘This is about protecting people’s health and purchasing power’
The NGM praised the industry’s willingness to cooperate, underlining the government’s goal of ensuring that safe and affordable medicines remain accessible to the Hungarian population. It also reiterated its readiness to act wherever unjustified price increases might emerge.
‘This is about protecting people’s health and purchasing power,’ the ministry said, stressing that voluntary market cooperation is preferred, but the government stands ready to act when necessary.
The price freeze on medicines adds another layer to Hungary’s ongoing strategy of inflation control and consumer protection, particularly for vulnerable groups like families and the elderly.
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