Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92001E3618

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-3618/01 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Comparisons of prices of important medicines.** 
  
*Official Journal 147 E , 20/06/2002 P. 0212 - 0213*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3618/01

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Comparisons of prices of important medicines

Prices of medicines are not transparent, and are difficult to compare.

Can the Commission provide a comparative overview of the price differences for:

1. 20 major medicines for cardiovascular diseases in the 15 Member States of the European Union?

2. 10 major medicines for diabetes in the 15 Member States of the European Union?

3. 10 major medicines for psychiatric diseases in the 15 Member States of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2002)

The Commission does not collect information on the prices of medicinal products. Some Member States are in the process of developing databases of comparative international prices. In addition, the World Health Organization has recently collected pricing data in 29 European countries for 25 innovative medicines. The results are set out in the brochure Policies on Pricing and Reimbursement of Medicines in Europe Networking for Information Exchange among Policymakers, 16-17 November 2000. Annex: Comparative Review of Drug Prices.

Council Directive 89/105/EEC of 21 December 1988 relating to the transparency of measures regulating the prices of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of national health insurance systems(1) requires there to be a certain transparency of national decisions on prices of medicinal products and their reimbursement within the Community.

It is envisaged to proceed in 2002 with an evaluation of this Directive in order to investigate whether it needs to be amended.

(1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

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