Pricing and Reimbursement Policies in New EU Accession Countries

Abstract

This paper aims to provide an informative and analytical view on healthcare policies on pricing and reimbursement in new accession countries, their reflection by the new national drugs legislations, and pricing and reimbursement policies, constraints and opportunities for the EU generic medicines producers. It is driven by the belief that having a greater understanding will help the pricing and reimbursement strategy planning process, and will enhance companies' performance while achieving greater awareness of the influence of the health policy factors in the region. A major stress is put on the process of change and the need for reformation of the healthcare policies on pricing and reimbursement, coming out of the EU enlargement process and legislation harmonisation. A snapshot is given of current pricing and reimbursement models together with a look at the Central and Eastern Europe drugs markets recent figures. Cost containment measures like economic evaluation of drugs, cross-countries price comparisons and parallel trade, and the slide from a branded to unbranded generics market are highlighted as the major factors that generic companies should take into account in the near future.