Evolution of Negotiations and Contracts for Reimbursement of Pharmaceuticals in Greece Between 2020 and 2025: Onwards and Upwards
Author(s)
Nandia Gogozotou, MBA, MSc, PharmD, PhD1, Anastasia Seimeni, MSc, PharmD1, Elisavet Komnineli, MBA, MSc, PharmD1, Vasiliki Koutrafouri, PharmD, MSc, PhD1, CHRISTINA GOLNA, LLM, MSc2, Kyriakos Souliotis, PhD3.
1Drug Price Negotiation Committee, Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece, 2Health Policy Institute, Maroussi, Greece, 3School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece.
1Drug Price Negotiation Committee, Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece, 2Health Policy Institute, Maroussi, Greece, 3School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: In Greece, the Drug Price Negotiation Committee (DPNC) of the Ministry of Health negotiates pharmaceutical prices with Marketing Authorization Holders (MAHs) to grant or maintain reimbursement status. Products may be referred to the DPNC either by the Committee for the Evaluation & Reimbursement of Drugs for Human Use (CERDHU) or the Minister of Health (MoH). If an agreement is reached, a contract is signed. We hereby present the evolution of volume of referrals and contracts between 2020 and 2025.
METHODS: We utilized data from the DPNC database. We mapped evolution of volume of referrals and contracts by legal basis of the medicinal products [i.e., innovative, orphan medicinal products (OMPs), etc.], starting from 2020. Cutoff date was June 18, 2025.
RESULTS: In 2020, the DPNC assessed 255 referrals for negotiation eligibility (176 CERDHU and 79 MoH) and signed 71 contracts (27.8% of total referrals). By cutoff date, the DPNC had assessed 2,043 referrals (1,454 CERDHU and 589 MoH) and had agreed to 1,380 contracts with MAHs (67.5% of total referrals). Of the 1,454 referrals received from CERDHU, 70.1% concerned a new product, 8.7% re-evaluations and 8.3% a new indication or indications, with the remainder concerning a new strength (4.1%), new packaging or new container (2.3%, each) or pharmaceutical form (1.7%). Generics accounted for 47.2% of total referrals from CERDHU, followed by innovative products (25.4%) and established use products (10.9%). Vaccines accounted for 3.9% of total referrals, OMPs for 3.1% and biosimilars for 2.4%. Of the innovative products, 42.2% of total referrals concerned a new product and 28.9% a new indication, whereas amongst OMPs, 77.3% of total referrals concerned a new product and an additional 11.4% a new indication.
CONCLUSIONS: The DPNC in Greece has substantially increased its output of negotiated contracts to expedite access to care whilst promoting budgetary compliance.
METHODS: We utilized data from the DPNC database. We mapped evolution of volume of referrals and contracts by legal basis of the medicinal products [i.e., innovative, orphan medicinal products (OMPs), etc.], starting from 2020. Cutoff date was June 18, 2025.
RESULTS: In 2020, the DPNC assessed 255 referrals for negotiation eligibility (176 CERDHU and 79 MoH) and signed 71 contracts (27.8% of total referrals). By cutoff date, the DPNC had assessed 2,043 referrals (1,454 CERDHU and 589 MoH) and had agreed to 1,380 contracts with MAHs (67.5% of total referrals). Of the 1,454 referrals received from CERDHU, 70.1% concerned a new product, 8.7% re-evaluations and 8.3% a new indication or indications, with the remainder concerning a new strength (4.1%), new packaging or new container (2.3%, each) or pharmaceutical form (1.7%). Generics accounted for 47.2% of total referrals from CERDHU, followed by innovative products (25.4%) and established use products (10.9%). Vaccines accounted for 3.9% of total referrals, OMPs for 3.1% and biosimilars for 2.4%. Of the innovative products, 42.2% of total referrals concerned a new product and 28.9% a new indication, whereas amongst OMPs, 77.3% of total referrals concerned a new product and an additional 11.4% a new indication.
CONCLUSIONS: The DPNC in Greece has substantially increased its output of negotiated contracts to expedite access to care whilst promoting budgetary compliance.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
HPR82
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Technology Assessment
Topic Subcategory
Reimbursement & Access Policy
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas