Abstract

In recent years, steps have been undertaken to increase the availability and transparency of health technology pricing and reimbursement information across countries. For instance, the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information project commissioned by the European Commission provided a framework for comparability of pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement data and policies, developed a core set of indicators, and conducted comparative analyses based on country profiles [1]. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development carried out a similar project that generated a taxonomy of
pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies, and analyzed the cross-national impact of these policies [2]. Both initiatives also focused on the role which health technology assessment (HTA) and economic evaluation play in informing pricing and reimbursement policies.