Prescription costs vary wildly between high-income countries
pharmafile | June 13, 2017 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | medicine, prescription, prescription cost
A study originating out of Canada has laid bare the difference in cost of primary care prescription drugs between different high-income countries. The study found that domestic expenditure per capita fluctuated from $23, in New Zealand, to $171, in Switzerland – a more than 600% swing.
The countries involved in the study were Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The US was not included as part of the study because it lacks universal health care.
The focus of the study was on six widely used categories of medicine purchased at pharmacies, including cholesterol-lowering drugs and pain medication. The research found that medications for treating high blood pressure were the most frequently taken.
Beyond this, the research found that countries that employed universal public funding were the most likely to have a lower level of domestic expenditure per person (Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK, in this study). This may be due to the direct negotiating power this gives the country to leverage lower prices.
Of all the countries, drug expenditure per capita was highest in Canada, with $824 spent per capita. The United Kingdom’s expenditure, by comparison, placed fifth out of the ten countries for expenditure, at $598 per capita.
Lead author of the study, Steven Morgan, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Public School of Health, said: “This study shows that Canada is a relatively poor performer in terms of encouraging cost-conscious prescription drug utilisation and a very poor performer in terms of achieving low prices for both the brand name and generic drugs that would be used for these therapeutic categories.”
A commentary on the study used the findings to suggest that Canada need universal pharmacare to drive down the everyday cost of prescription medicine. This comes after a fierce debate has erupted in Canada over the high-cost of prescription, leading to 1 in 10 people not being able to afford to fill prescriptions.
Ben Hargreaves
Related Content
Prices hiked on 3,400 drugs in first half of 2019
There have been price hikes on more than 3,400 drugs in the United States in …
One third of Brits stockpile drugs
A third (33%) of brits stockpile medicines, according to new research from Co-op Health. One …
NHS Confederation chief says news of Brexit extension is a relief
Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, has said news of the decision …
