Centralised Pharmaceutical Procurement: Learnings from Six European Countries.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Public Health
• Pharmaceutical Economics

Background:

• Several European nations have adopted centralized pharmaceutical procurement (CPP) for medicines.
• This approach aims to optimize drug purchasing and enhance public health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively analyze the features of national CPP systems in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Norway, and Portugal.
• To identify benefits, challenges, and prerequisites for successful CPP implementation.
• To offer insights for other countries considering CPP.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of national CPP systems.
• Information gathered through literature review and interviews with national procurement experts.

Main Results:

• All studied countries established dedicated procurement entities, though organizational structures differ.
• A mix of procurement procedures (tendering, negotiations) is employed.
• Reported benefits include reduced drug prices, increased purchasing power, improved transparency, governance, equity, and medicine access.

Conclusions:

• CPP systems, despite variations, offer significant advantages in cost reduction and access.
• Key challenges involve initial stakeholder opposition and managing expectations.
• Sustained success depends on a robust strategy, adequate funding, efficient processes, and strong stakeholder interaction.