Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Adequate pricing and reimbursement for medicines are important to patient access; however, factors influencing these decisions can vary across Southeast Asian countries.
METHODS: Twelve private and private payers in multiple Southeast Asian countries were interviewed in 2024.
RESULTS: In Singapore, hospitals are authorized to contact and negotiate price rebates/discounts with drug manufacturers. They consider drug evaluation and HTA guidelines before deciding on the price. Drug prices vary by hospital; reimbursement is provided to the hospitals, and drugs on the Standard Drug List are subsidized nationally. In Thailand, the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) guides policymakers in including new drugs in the public health benefit package. Economic evaluations are done to determine cost-effectiveness, and price negotiations usually consider reference prices in other countries. In Vietnam, no specific strategy exists for drug pricing; the manufacturers decide the price. The reimbursement differs for national and provincial governments; each province has its own insurer. In the Philippines, HTA evaluations are done by the Department of Health. For prescription products, primarily out-of-pocket payment systems exist. There is no reference pricing/ floor pricing mechanism. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health is the main body of drug pricing. For inclusion in public hospitals’ formulary, a drug is evaluated on effectiveness, budget spent, disease prevalence and reference to local guidelines—however, there is no formal pricing control mechanism in the private sector. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health regulates the price of drugs in a formulary and drug coverage is based on the essential drug lists.
CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion in clinical guidelines, HTA evaluations, essential drug lists, and differential co-payment rates based on patients’ economic status, in general, influence pharmaceuticals access in Southeast Asian Countries. Nevertheless, the knowledge of varying factors would help drug marketers gain patient access to their drugs in these countries.