OBJECTIVES:

The study had for objective to compare prices and reimbursement modalities of non-opioid analgesics (NOAs) in each European country to evaluate the future strategy of NOAs reimbursement.

METHODS:

A benchmark concerning NOAs reimbursement was conducted in April 2017. Seven European countries were included in the study: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.

A survey was conducted in each country. Collected data were completed and compared to existing public data.

RESULTS:

The study showed that NOAs reimbursement in the 7 studied countries in fashions that differ from one country to another: apart from France, NOAs’ reimbursement rates depend on several variables which are related to the product (kind of analgesic, conditioning), the patient (income level, age, social status), and the disease (chronical or specific pathologies).

The study also allowed to highlight that NOAs regulation and distribution are different in each country: some countries allow OTC NOA sale in supermarkets when in others it is permitted only in pharmacies.

The benchmark underlines that:

- In 4 out of 7 countries, aspirin is not reimbursed at all when prescribed as a pain drug

- Ibuprofen is reimbursed in almost all countries but in specific conditions

- Paracetamol is the most widely reimbursed drug, in regard of the data collected in all 7 countries.

When focused on prices, German prices are higher than in other countries and Dutch prices appear to be the lowest.

CONCLUSIONS:

Disparities concerning modalities of reimbursement in Europe have been highlighted. These disparities can be in part explained by the fact that each country has its own policy.

Regarding the results, France seems to have the “most generous” system of care, since NOAs are reimbursed without any condition.