The trend in the medicine reimbursement paid from public funds is closely followed by the competent authorities. In fact, the sales of reimbursable medicines account for a significant share of the combined sales of all medicines. The trend in the reimbursement expenditure is, however, not the whole truth in the matter.
It is equally important to track the medicines sales that are not eligible for reimbursements, related to
- preventive medication
- vaccines
- hospital medicines
- self-care medicines (OTC medicines)
In addition, the other healthcare costs must also be followed, since well-functioning pharmacotherapies often generate savings in other expenses. For example, the treatment of schizophrenia is today mostly based on outpatient care arrangements. Such changes increase reimbursement expenses but decrease other healthcare costs, such as those incurred for hospital care or other specialised healthcare.
Statistics illustrate and indicate trends
It is possible to have an overall picture only by looking at several different statistics. They also point to future directions. Important indicators include the sales and price trends in various sectors of the pharmaceutical market. The international statistics provide another perspective.
The statistics on the PIF site are based on the major official sources of information:
The international statistics are based on the data collected by the industry’s European umbrella organisation, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations,
Efpia.