OBJECTIVES: This research aims at developing meta-indicators (hereinafter referred to as PPRI indicators) for describing and analysing medicine pricing and reimbursement systems in European countries and beyond and making them available in a public database. The overall objective is to increase access to medicines for patients by providing accurate comparative country information on pharmaceutical systems for policy-makers and other stakeholders.

METHODS: Based on available taxonomies of meta-indicators for describing and assessing pharmaceutical systems a comprehensive set of qualitative and quantitative indicators was established and enhanced. A sustainable IT-supported reporting system (dashboard) for the meta-indicators was set up and filled with information on pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement systems which is collected from competent authorities in 50, mainly European, countries and other sources.

RESULTS: A set of more than 60 qualitative and quantitative meta-indicators on pharmaceutical systems was developed. The PPRI indicators comprise information on e.g. authorities in charge of pharmaceutical pricing or reimbursement, on use of specific pricing policies like external price referencing, value-based pricing and distribution remuneration, on reimbursement policies, on co-payments and on generic policies etc. The indicators are now filled with data from 50, mainly European countries, and will be made available in the public database on a step-by-step basis. The launch of the public PPRI indicators tool is planned for autumn 2022.

CONCLUSIONS: Policy makers need a robust information system to assess the performance and design of national pharmaceutical policies in comparison with other countries. This information needs to be collected from different sources and is not readily available. The developed meta-indicators (PPRI indicators) and the publicly available database try to fill this gap. The dashboard will provide the public and the media with rapid access to key system characteristics in the pharmaceutical sector of various countries und also lay the basis for further comparative pharmaceutical systems research.