How can health technology assessment be improved to optimise access to medicines? Results from a Delphi study in Europe : Better access to medicines through HTA.

Introduction: Access to medicines is a shared goal across healthcare stakeholders. Since health technology assessment (HTA) informs funding decisions, it shapes access to medicines. Despite its wide implementation, significant access variations due to HTA are observed across Europe.

Assessing pricing and reimbursement policies for generic pharmaceuticals in the MENA region for improved efficiency, affordability and generic penetration.

Background: Healthcare systems in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region face challenges in healthcare service funding and delivery. Greater use of generics satisfies the objectives of macroeconomic efficiency and contributes to healthcare financial sustainability.

Objective: To examine and critically appraise the key features of supply- and demand-side policies for generic pharmaceuticals in eleven MENA countries.

Pricing of in-patent pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa: Is external reference pricing implemented optimally?

In this paper we outline and compare pharmaceutical pricing policies for in-patent prescription pharmaceuticals with emphasis on external reference pricing (ERP) in eleven countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and explore possible improvements in their pricing systems. Primary and secondary evidence was used to inform our analysis. Comparative analysis of ERP systems across countries followed an analytical framework distilling ERP into twelve salient features, while ERP system performance was benchmarked against a framework of best practice principles across (a) objectives and scope, (b) administration and operations, (c) methods used, and (d) implementation.