International Comparison of Pharmaceutical Prices. A Meta-Analysis (2004)

Analysing the outcome of comparisons of pharmaceutical prices in several countries.

Pharmaceutical prices are far from harmonisation. International comparisons of prices highlight a discrepancy between different national price levels. For further insight, ÖBIG analysed the outcome of international price comparisons: ·

• ÖBIG identified which studies on pharmaceutical price comparisons have been published world-wide since the 1980-ties; ·

• defined criteria for the evaluation of the studies and their inclusion in the meta-analysis and carried out a pre-selection of studies for the meta-analysis; ·

• analysed selected studies with regard to their methodology (single price comparison / average price comparison, conversion of prices, included pharmaceuticals, data source), the countries included, price levels

In spite of differences due to different methodological approaches used in the studies, the outcome of international comparisons on pharmaceutical price levels are consistently similar.

Client: Pharmig

Editor: ÖBIG (Austrian Health Institute)

Place of publication: Vienna

Year of publication: 2004

ISBN: 3-85159-075-9

Number of pages: 35 pages, 5 tables, 27 figures

Reimbursement of expenses: € 25,00