OBJECTIVE: Given the rapid economic growth and increasing rate of health care spending in the Pacific Asia (PA) area, pharmacoeconomic research (PE) has the potential to assist decision-making on pharmaceutical coverage. This study evaluated the environment and the future trend for PE in the PA region. METHODS: A comprehensive survey of pricing and reimbursement personnel from pharmaceutical industry was conducted in 15 countries in the PA area in 2004. The survey consisted of 22 structured questions and covered the following issues: health care system, PE guidelines, factors impacting pricing and reimbursement decision, importance of PE data in supporting reimbursement, submission channel for PE data and future expectations. The questionnaire was pretested for content validity. Respondents were expected to answer the survey relying on their own local knowledge and experience. RESULTS: The response rate on the survey was 87% (13 out of 15 countries). In most countries reimbursement mechanisms were reported as combination of government funding and private insurance. Over 60% of the countries had a reimbursement list for prescription drugs. Most countries indicated that drug price was determined based on reference pricing, parity pricing and pharmaceutical profitability, while reimbursement decision was primarily based on drug price, but clinical data and pharmaceutical data also had a role. At the time of the survey, one-fifth of the countries indicated that PE data were required for reimbursement and additional one-half of the countries indicated that PE data were helpful. Three-fourth of the surveyed countries expected that PE data would be required for pricing and reimbursement within 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were variations with regard to the practice and potential for PE data among the surveyed PA countries, this study suggested that PE is emerging in the PA region and more countries are moving toward some formal requirement for PE evidence for pharmaceuticals.