Policy action on net price transparency (NPT) for pharmaceuticals – the public disclosure of prices paid to manufacturers – is not straightforward:
(-) empirical evidence on its effect is extremely limited
(-) some stakeholders are concerned that moves towards increased price transparency would have a negative impact on accessibility (-) payers in different health systems may consider measures to increase price transparency as more or less necessary to increase affordable access to medicines.
Any movement towards NPT requires a re-examination of the established trade-offs in pharmaceutical policy in Europe and worldwide. It is important to consider, for example:
(-) the differing needs and negotiating capacities across countries (-) the complexities of the interactions between stakeholders (-) the way the process of implementation may shape the policy’s impact (-) the possible implications for innovation. Increasing transparency in the pharmaceutical system will require greater European and international collaboration – strengthening and going beyond existing initiatives. It also demands a clear focus on maintaining access, innovation and sustainability. Recent experience with joint purchasing, such as in the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, may bolster similar initiatives in future.