FROM LIMITED ACCESS TO RISING EXPENDITURE: TRENDS IN IMPORTED MEDICINES DISPENSED THROUGH PUBLIC OUTPATIENT PHARMACIES IN GREECE, 2020-2025
Author(s)
Christina Georgi, PharmD, MSc, PhD1, Panagiotis Paterakis, PharmD, MSc, PhD1, Anastasia Seimeni, PharmD, MSc2, Nandia Gogozotou, MBA, MSc, PharmD, PhD1.
1National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY), Athens, Greece, 2Greek Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece.
1National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY), Athens, Greece, 2Greek Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: Beyond medicines routinely marketed in Greece through the National Drug Price Bulletin and reimbursed via the Positive List, a subset of pharmaceutical products addressing unmet and specialized patient needs is made available through importation by the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology (IFET), following approval under the Electronic Pre-Approval System process. Public outpatient pharmacies (EOPYY) constitute a principal distribution channel for these medicines. This study evaluates pharmaceutical expenditure associated with IFET-imported products dispensed through EOPYY Pharmacies, with a particular focus on orphan medicines.
METHODS: A longitudinal assessment of pharmaceutical expenditure was conducted using aggregated data derived from purchase invoices of EOPYY pharmacies for the period 2020-2025. Medicines were classified as orphan if they had received at least one orphan designation from the European Medicines Agency for any indication during the corresponding year. Study outcomes included total acquisition expenditure, number of pharmaceutical packages procured, and number of distinct proprietary medicinal products.
RESULTS: Between 2020 and 2025, procurement expenditure for IFET imported medicines by EOPYY Pharmacies increased from €62.3 million to €309.6 million (397%), corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CARG) of 37.8%. Over the same period, the number of pharmaceutical packages acquired rose from 13,699 to 93,395 (+582%), while distinct proprietary medicinal products increased from 128 to 204 (+59%). Expenditure on orphan medicines increased from €29.4 million to €174.4 million (+493%; CARG: 42.8%), accounting for 47.2% and 56.3% of total expenditure in 2020 and 2025, respectively. The number of orphan packages increased from 5,824 to 19,590 (+236%), while distinct orphan medicinal products rose from 28 to 45 (+61%). Mean acquisition expenditure per package decreased from €4,550 to €3,315 across all medicines but increased from €5,047 to 8,903 for orphan medicines.
CONCLUSIONS: IFET-imported medicines are driving a growing share of expenditure, underscoring the importance of monitoring of their long-term budget impact.
METHODS: A longitudinal assessment of pharmaceutical expenditure was conducted using aggregated data derived from purchase invoices of EOPYY pharmacies for the period 2020-2025. Medicines were classified as orphan if they had received at least one orphan designation from the European Medicines Agency for any indication during the corresponding year. Study outcomes included total acquisition expenditure, number of pharmaceutical packages procured, and number of distinct proprietary medicinal products.
RESULTS: Between 2020 and 2025, procurement expenditure for IFET imported medicines by EOPYY Pharmacies increased from €62.3 million to €309.6 million (397%), corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CARG) of 37.8%. Over the same period, the number of pharmaceutical packages acquired rose from 13,699 to 93,395 (+582%), while distinct proprietary medicinal products increased from 128 to 204 (+59%). Expenditure on orphan medicines increased from €29.4 million to €174.4 million (+493%; CARG: 42.8%), accounting for 47.2% and 56.3% of total expenditure in 2020 and 2025, respectively. The number of orphan packages increased from 5,824 to 19,590 (+236%), while distinct orphan medicinal products rose from 28 to 45 (+61%). Mean acquisition expenditure per package decreased from €4,550 to €3,315 across all medicines but increased from €5,047 to 8,903 for orphan medicines.
CONCLUSIONS: IFET-imported medicines are driving a growing share of expenditure, underscoring the importance of monitoring of their long-term budget impact.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HPR159
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Public Spending & National Health Expenditures, Reimbursement & Access Policy
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas