Pharmaceutical policies in European countries
1Faculdade de Economia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Summary
Controlling pharmaceutical spending in Europe involves diverse policies like price regulation and generic promotion. However, no single solution exists, highlighting challenges in R&D incentives and industry collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Health economics
- Pharmaceutical policy
- European Union health systems
Background:
- Pharmaceutical expenditures represent a significant financial burden in Europe.
- Governments, particularly as third-party payers, implement various policy measures to manage these costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze the primary policy measures adopted by European Union countries to control pharmaceutical expenditures.
- To identify key challenges in pharmaceutical cost containment, especially in countries with substantial government involvement in healthcare.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review on pharmaceutical expenditure control policies.
- Data collection through national health system reviews and direct inquiries to governmental bodies.
Main Results:
- Price regulation is nearly universal across European countries.
- Common strategies include international price referencing, internal reference pricing, and positive reimbursement lists favoring generics.
- No single policy effectively controls pharmaceutical spending; challenges include international policy coordination for R&D and developing risk-sharing agreements with the pharmaceutical industry.
Conclusions:
- Effective control of pharmaceutical expenditures requires a multifaceted approach, as no single policy measure is universally successful.
- Addressing global R&D incentives and fostering collaborative risk-sharing models with the pharmaceutical industry are critical for future policy development.
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