Purchasing factor concentrates in the 21st century through competitive tendering

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Health Economics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Haemophilia treatment, particularly with factor VIII and IX concentrates, has become exceptionally costly.
• High annual treatment costs, exceeding £100,000 per patient in the UK, necessitate efficient procurement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the UK's national procurement system for clotting factor concentrates.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of procurement strategies in reducing treatment costs for haemophilia.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of national procurement schemes adhering to EU regulations.
• Technical and price evaluation of clotting factor concentrates.
• Use of reverse e-auction for bioequivalent products to determine pricing.

Main Results:

• Significant cost reductions were achieved in the procurement of factor concentrates.
• The system successfully retained all suppliers.
• A degree of prescribing freedom for clinicians was maintained.

Conclusions:

• National procurement schemes, like the UK's, can effectively reduce haemophilia treatment costs.
• Competitive pricing mechanisms, such as reverse e-auctions, are valuable tools.
• Elements of this procurement model show potential for wider application globally.