OBJECTIVES: The analysis aimed to examine the payers’ and clinicians' approaches to the unmet need for new treatments and the burden of rare disease. The study also concerned the clinical value and financing of treatment for a rare disease.

METHODS: Nine in-depth interviews with clinicians and representatives of the payer in Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic were conducted. The interviews concerned the clinical and economic burden of disease, current treatment, financing, and the need for new therapies for an exemplary rare disease. The study does not concern any specific product.

RESULTS: The differences were two-level – between responders and between countries. The greatest differences between the payers and the clinicians in the approach to rare diseases were observed in Poland and Greece. The main differences were related to the clinical burden. There were also some cross-countries differences. The respondents from the Czech Republic assessed unmet need as a “little need” or “some need”, while most respondents from Greece and Poland assessed it as a “strong need”.

CONCLUSIONS: The approach to the need for new therapies in rare disease differ between countries. The observed situation also indicates the need for a better dialogue between clinicians and the payer, especially in Greece and Poland. Among the analyzed countries, Polish payers seem to be the most sceptical about financing new therapies for rare diseases.