PURPOSE: Evaluate inter-country variability in the reimbursement of publically funded cancer drugs, and identify factors such as cost containment measures that may contribute to variability. METHODS: As of February 28, 2010, licensed indications for 10 cancer drugs (bevacizumab, bortezomib, cetuximab, erlotinib, imatinib, pemetrexed, rituximab, sorafenib, sunitinib, and trastuzumab) were obtained from the drug registries of 6 licensing authorities corresponding to 13 countries or regions: Australia, Canada (Ontario), England, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States (Medicare Parts B and D). Number of licensed indications reimbursed by public payers and the use of cost containment measures were obtained by survey of health authorities involved in reimbursement and through public documents. RESULTS: The 48 identified licensed indications varied between agencies (range: 36-44 indications). Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States reimbursed the highest percentage of indications (range: 90%-100%). Canada (54%), Australia (46%), Scotland (40%), England (38%), and New Zealand (25%) reimbursed the least. All 5 countries with the lowest rate of reimbursement incorporated a cost-effectiveness analysis into reimbursement decisions and rejected submissions for reimbursement mainly because of lack of cost effectiveness; in New Zealand, lack of cost effectiveness was the second leading cause of rejection after excessive cost. In 9 countries, risk-sharing agreements were used to contain costs. Indications initially not recommended for reimbursement (9 in Australia, 5 in Canada, and 3 in England, New Zealand, and Scotland) were subsequently approved with risk-sharing agreements or special pricing arrangements. CONCLUSIONS: Reimbursement of publically funded cancer drugs varies globally. The cause is multifactorial.
PURPOSE: Evaluate inter-country variability in the reimbursement of publically funded cancer drugs, and identify factors such as cost containment measures that may contribute to variability. METHODS: As of February 28, 2010, licensed indications for 10 cancer drugs (bevacizumab, bortezomib, cetuximab, erlotinib, imatinib, pemetrexed, rituximab, sorafenib, sunitinib, and trastuzumab) were obtained from the drug registries of 6 licensing authorities corresponding to 13 countries or regions: Australia, Canada (Ontario), England, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States (Medicare Parts B and D). Number of licensed indications reimbursed by public payers and the use of cost containment measures were obtained by survey of health authorities involved in reimbursement and through public documents. RESULTS: The 48 identified licensed indications varied between agencies (range: 36-44 indications). Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States reimbursed the highest percentage of indications (range: 90%-100%). Canada (54%), Australia (46%), Scotland (40%), England (38%), and New Zealand (25%) reimbursed the least. All 5 countries with the lowest rate of reimbursement incorporated a cost-effectiveness analysis into reimbursement decisions and rejected submissions for reimbursement mainly because of lack of cost effectiveness; in New Zealand, lack of cost effectiveness was the second leading cause of rejection after excessive cost. In 9 countries, risk-sharing agreements were used to contain costs. Indications initially not recommended for reimbursement (9 in Australia, 5 in Canada, and 3 in England, New Zealand, and Scotland) were subsequently approved with risk-sharing agreements or special pricing arrangements. CONCLUSIONS: Reimbursement of publically funded cancer drugs varies globally. The cause is multifactorial.
Authors: Catherine Sermet; Veronique Andrieu; Brian Godman; Eric Van Ganse; Alan Haycox; Jean-Pierre Reynier Journal: Appl Health Econ Health Policy Date: 2010 Impact factor: 2.561
Authors: Jakub Adamski; Brian Godman; Gabriella Ofierska-Sujkowska; Bogusława Osińska; Harald Herholz; Kamila Wendykowska; Ott Laius; Saira Jan; Catherine Sermet; Corrine Zara; Marija Kalaba; Roland Gustafsson; Kristina Garuolienè; Alan Haycox; Silvio Garattini; Lars L Gustafsson Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2010-06-07 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Rickard E Malmström; Brian B Godman; Eduard Diogene; Christoph Baumgärtel; Marion Bennie; Iain Bishop; Anna Brzezinska; Anna Bucsics; Stephen Campbell; Alessandra Ferrario; Alexander E Finlayson; Jurij Fürst; Kristina Garuoliene; Miguel Gomes; Iñaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea; Alan Haycox; Krystyna Hviding; Harald Herholz; Mikael Hoffmann; Saira Jan; Jan Jones; Roberta Joppi; Marija Kalaba; Christina Kvalheim; Ott Laius; Irene Langner; Julie Lonsdale; Sven-Äke Lööv; Kamila Malinowska; Laura McCullagh; Ken Paterson; Vanda Markovic-Pekovic; Andrew Martin; Jutta Piessnegger; Gisbert Selke; Catherine Sermet; Steven Simoens; Cankat Tulunay; Dominik Tomek; Luka Vončina; Vera Vlahovic-Palcevski; Janet Wale; Michael Wilcock; Magdalena Wladysiuk; Menno van Woerkom; Corrine Zara; Lars L Gustafsson Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2013-05-14 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Brian Godman; Alexander E Finlayson; Parneet K Cheema; Eva Zebedin-Brandl; Inaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea; Jan Jones; Rickard E Malmström; Elina Asola; Christoph Baumgärtel; Marion Bennie; Iain Bishop; Anna Bucsics; Stephen Campbell; Eduardo Diogene; Alessandra Ferrario; Jurij Fürst; Kristina Garuoliene; Miguel Gomes; Katharine Harris; Alan Haycox; Harald Herholz; Krystyna Hviding; Saira Jan; Marija Kalaba; Christina Kvalheim; Ott Laius; Sven-Ake Lööv; Kamila Malinowska; Andrew Martin; Laura McCullagh; Fredrik Nilsson; Ken Paterson; Ulrich Schwabe; Gisbert Selke; Catherine Sermet; Steven Simoens; Dominik Tomek; Vera Vlahovic-Palcevski; Luka Voncina; Magdalena Wladysiuk; Menno van Woerkom; Durhane Wong-Rieger; Corrine Zara; Raghib Ali; Lars L Gustafsson Journal: BMC Med Date: 2013-08-13 Impact factor: 8.775