Zoltán Kaló1,2, Ibrahim Alabbadi3, Ola Ghaleb Al Ahdab4, Maryam Alowayesh5, Mahmoud Elmahdawy6, Abdulaziz H Al-Saggabi7, Vito Luigi Tanzi8, Daoud Al-Badriyeh9, Hamad S Alsultan10, Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali11, Gihan H Elsisi6, Kasem S Akhras12, Zoltán Vokó1,2, Panos Kanavos13. 1. a 1 Department of Health Policy and Health Economics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. 2. b 2 Syreon Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary. 3. c 3 University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 4. d 4 Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 5. e 5 Kuwait University, Yarmook, Kuwait. 6. f 6 Central Administration For Pharmaceutical Affairs (CAPA), Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt. 7. g 7 Drug Policy & Economics Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 8. h 8 Department of Health Management and Policy, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. 9. i 9 College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 10. j 10 Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman, Kuwait. 11. k 11 Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar. 12. l 12 Novartis Pharma Services AG, Dubai, UAE. 13. m 13 Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, London, UK.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: External price referencing (EPR) is applied frequently to control pharmaceutical prices. Our objective was to analyse how EPR is used in Middle Eastern (ME) countries and to compare the price corridor for original pharmaceuticals to non-pharmaceutical services not subjected to EPR. METHODS: We conducted a survey on EPR regulations and collected prices of 16 patented pharmaceuticals and 14 non-pharmaceutical services in seven Middle Eastern (ME) countries. Maximum and minimum prices of each pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical technology were compared to mean prices in the countries studied by using market exchange rates. Influencing factors of pharmaceutical prices were assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The average price corridor is narrower for pharmaceuticals (-39.8%; +35.9%) than for outpatient and hospital services (-81.7%; +96.3%). CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed the importance of population size and EPR implementation on drug price levels; however, EPR results in higher pharmaceutical prices in lower-income countries compared to non-pharmaceutical services.
INTRODUCTION: External price referencing (EPR) is applied frequently to control pharmaceutical prices. Our objective was to analyse how EPR is used in Middle Eastern (ME) countries and to compare the price corridor for original pharmaceuticals to non-pharmaceutical services not subjected to EPR. METHODS: We conducted a survey on EPR regulations and collected prices of 16 patented pharmaceuticals and 14 non-pharmaceutical services in seven Middle Eastern (ME) countries. Maximum and minimum prices of each pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical technology were compared to mean prices in the countries studied by using market exchange rates. Influencing factors of pharmaceutical prices were assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The average price corridor is narrower for pharmaceuticals (-39.8%; +35.9%) than for outpatient and hospital services (-81.7%; +96.3%). CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed the importance of population size and EPR implementation on drug price levels; however, EPR results in higher pharmaceutical prices in lower-income countries compared to non-pharmaceutical services.
Entities:
Keywords:
Middle East countries; cross-national price comparison; external reference pricing; international society of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research; pharmaceutical pricing; price corridor for pharmaceuticals
Authors: Sergio I Prada; Victoria E Soto; Tatiana S Andia; Claudia P Vaca; Álvaro A Morales; Sergio R Márquez; Alejandro Gaviria Journal: Cost Eff Resour Alloc Date: 2018-03-02
Authors: Ahmad Fasseeh; Baher ElEzbawy; Wessam Adly; Rawda ElShahawy; Mohsen George; Sherif Abaza; Amr ElShalakani; Zoltán Kaló Journal: J Egypt Public Health Assoc Date: 2022-01-07