WHO: New measures needed to reduce high drug costs
pharmafile | March 26, 2015 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Europe, WHO, pricing, transparency, world health organization
New approaches to drug pricing and reimbursement are needed to make sure pharma provides access to new medicines, according to a report by the World Health Organization.
It warns that it will not be possible for pharma to bring these new treatments to market unless radical changes are made to ‘address the situation proactively’.
Recent analyses suggest that over 1,000 new products are in development across all disease areas, 42% of which are biological products typically priced between €10,000 €100,000 per patient per year.
Similarly pharma firms have registered over 16,000 pipeline products, and more than 6,300 of these are investigational treatments for treating patients with cancer. This pipeline could equate to more than 130 new treatments gaining EMA approval between 2014 and 2016.
Therefore, the report argues that new measures are required before, during and after a new drug’s launch to provide access to medicines and make them affordable for payers and patients – especially for prohibitively-priced new drugs for cancer, hepatitis C, orphan drugs and type 2 diabetes, which are singled out for closer analysis.
The report details several initiatives that have been launched in Europe aimed at improving access to new and innovative medicines that will be the “bellwethers for access to new medicines in the future” – but that so far have failed to address the problems.
The report concludes that: “Achieving fair pricing and ensuring long-term sustainability of health care systems and access for patients is one of the biggest challenges for health and pharmaceutical systems in Europe and worldwide. Prioritisation processes will increasingly be required for introduction of new medicines and should incorporate principles of collaboration and transparency.”
Hanne Bak Pedersen, who is programme manager, health technologies and pharmaceuticals and WHO regional office for Europe says: “It is encouraging that new medicines are being developed but national health authorities have to be sure, when taking decisions on purchasing newly developed drugs, that the price reflects the therapeutic results.
“Our report explores trends, practices and evidence that can increase transparency and help governments to negotiate better with the industry to lower the prices of new drugs.”
Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, adds: “Our objective is to help countries to define their priorities so that they get the best out of the investment they make in new medicines. But the ultimate goal is to protect patients’ interests and to ensure that they are not provided with expensive new medicines that offer little or no improvement in health outcomes.”
Lilian Anekwe
Related Content
Historic UN declaration supporting mental health – treatment to be given similar priority to chronic diseases
The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted the political declaration to combat mental …
WHO recommends new vaccine for prevention of malaria in children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, …
WHO releases Medical Product Alert for contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization (WHO) has shared a Medical Product Alert for an additional contaminated …
