Pricing of in-patent pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa: is external reference pricing implemented optimally?

Kanavos, Panos ORCID: 0000-0001-9518-3089, Kamphuis, Bregtje, Fontrier, Anna-Maria, Parkin, Georgia Colville, Saleh, Shadi and Akhras, Kasey S. (2020) Pricing of in-patent pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa: is external reference pricing implemented optimally? Health Policy, 124 (12). 1297 - 1309. ISSN 0168-8510

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Abstract

In this paper we outline and compare pharmaceutical pricing policies for in-patent prescription pharma- ceuticals with emphasis on external reference pricing (ERP) in eleven countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and explore possible improvements in their pricing systems. Primary and secondary evidence was used to inform our analysis. Comparative analysis of ERP systems across countries followed an analytical framework distilling ERP into twelve salient features, while ERP system performance was benchmarked against a framework of best practice principles across (a) objectives and scope, (b) administration and operations, (c) methods used, and (d) implementation. Results suggest that ERP is the dominant pricing method for in-patent pharmaceuticals. Although several good practice cases were identified, none of the eleven countries satisfy all best practice principles. ERP basket sizes vary sig- nificantly and are commonly composed using geographical proximity and low-price countries as criteria. Nine countries do not use the mean or median prices, but resort to using the lowest. Exchange rate fluc- tuations are routinely used to arrive at price reductions in local currency. Significant opportunities exist for MENA countries to develop their ERP regimes to achieve greater compliance with best practice princi- ples. Over the short-term, incremental changes could be implemented to several ERP salient features and can be achieved relatively easily, thereby enhancing the functionality and performance of national ERP systems. Countries in the region can also focus on the development of explicit value assessment systems, and minimize their dependence on ERP over the longer-term.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/health-polic...
Additional Information:	© 2020 The Authors
Divisions:	Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Date Deposited:	22 Sep 2020 16:39
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2024 17:24
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/106605

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