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European Union Pharmaceutical Markets: A Case for Differential Pricing?

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  • Adrian Towse
  • Michele Pistollato
  • Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz
  • Zeba Khan
  • Satyin Kaura
  • Louis Garrison

Abstract

Differential pricing has been considered extensively for its potential to increase access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries. A differential pricing system applied within an economic union (such as the European Union [EU]) comprising high-income and middle-income countries would also increase access and provide stronger incentives to invest in the R&D of innovative medicines. Access to innovative medicines is limited in EU markets with relatively low GDP per capita, indicating that the current pricing system does not promote efficient access. This article looks at how theory could be put into practice suggesting ways to implement a differential pricing system in the EU that can enhance overall welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrian Towse & Michele Pistollato & Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz & Zeba Khan & Satyin Kaura & Louis Garrison, 2015. "European Union Pharmaceutical Markets: A Case for Differential Pricing?," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 263-275, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ijecbs:v:22:y:2015:i:2:p:263-275
    DOI: 10.1080/13571516.2015.1045747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Giorgio Gnecco & Fabio Pammolli & Berna Tuncay, 2022. "Welfare and research and development incentive effects of uniform and differential pricing schemes," Computational Management Science, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 229-268, June.
    3. Sabine Vogler, 2019. "Fair prices for medicines? Exploring competent authorities’ and public payers’ preferences on pharmaceutical policies," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 46(3), pages 443-469, August.
    4. Sabine Vogler & Kenneth R. Paterson, 2017. "Can Price Transparency Contribute to More Affordable Patient Access to Medicines?," PharmacoEconomics - Open, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 145-147, September.
    5. Fabio Pammolli & Armando Rungi, 2016. "Access to Medicines and European Market Integration," Working Papers 01/2016, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, revised Jan 2016.
    6. Shi, Wunan & Wouters, Olivier J. & Liu, Gordon & Mossialos, Elias & Yang, Xiuyun, 2020. "Association between provincial income levels and drug prices in China over the period 2010–2017," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    7. Giorgio Gnecco & Berna Tuncay & Fabio Pammolli, 2018. "A Comparison of Game-Theoretic Models for Parallel Trade," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(03), pages 1-57, September.
    8. Pedro Garcia-del-Barrio, 2017. "Pareto-improving income redistribution: expanding consumer access to the vaccines market," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 275-313, August.
    9. Riccaboni, Massimo & Swoboda, Torben & Van Dyck, Walter, 2022. "Pharmaceutical net price transparency across european markets: Insights from a multi-agent simulation model," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(6), pages 534-540.

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