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461 - Cost-containment policies in public pharmaceutical spending in the EU
Author(s): Giuseppe Carone, Christoph Schwierz, Ana Xavier
Cost-containment policies in public pharmaceutical spending in the EU
(953 kB) 
Summary for non-specialists(34 kB)
This paper presents and evaluates pharmaceutical policies in the EU aimed at the rational use of medicines and at keeping pharmaceutical spending under control. Policy makers are growing more aware that by regulating pharmaceutical markets correctly, considerable savings can be achieved without compromising the quality of care. Specifically, the paper makes the case that, by following numerous best-practices in pharmaceutical sector regulations, the value for money of pharmaceutical consumption could be substantially increased. Appropriate regulations can be relevant for pricing, reimbursement, market entry and expenditure control, as well as specific policies targeted at the distribution chain, physicians and patients. Drawing on various initiatives at the EU level related to the pharmaceutical sector, the paper also explores policy options for the EU.
(European Economy. Economic Papers 461. September 2012.
Brussels. PDF. 62pp. Tab. Graph. Ann. Free.)
| KC-AI-12-461-EN-N (online) | |
| ISBN ISBN 978-92-79-22982-4 (online) | |
| |
| doi: 10.2765/27111 (online) | |
JEL classification: I11, I18
Economic Papers are written by the staff of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, or by experts working in association with them. The Papers are intended to increase awareness of the technical work being done by staff and to seek comments and suggestions for further analysis. The views expressed are the author’s alone and do not necessarily correspond to those of the European Commission.
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