Differences in Prices of Certain Drugs (Used for Rare Diseases, Diabetes, Asthma, and Oncology) in Central and Eastern European Countries

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare drug prices from 4 therapeutic areas: rare diseases, diabetes, asthma, and oncology across selected Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The drugs chosen for comparison are Spinraza (for rare diseases), Forxiga (for diabetes), Fasenra (for asthma), and Opdivo (for oncology). The project also showed whether the countries have similar access to modern drug technologies.

METHODS: A desk review of reimbursement documents in 10 CEE countries (members of the European Union) was conducted (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia). The prices for the selected drugs were obtained from publicly available sources, such as the websites of the Ministry of Health.

RESULTS: The chosen drugs are reimbursed in most of the selected CEE countries. Fasenra and Forxiga are the cheapest in Hungary and Opdivo – in Hungary and Slovenia. Forxiga’s price is almost twice as high in the Czech Republic as in Hungary and Latvia more than twice as high. Latvia has the highest price of Fasenra. Opdivo is available in smaller sizes (4 ml,10 ml) in most selected countries and for these packages, the price is the highest in Poland. Spinraza's price is the highest in Latvia and the lowest in Croatia and Slovenia.

CONCLUSIONS: In most selected European countries, the drugs covered by the study are reimbursed, and their prices, with a few exceptions, are at a quite similar level.