Balancing health and industrial policy objectives in the pharmaceutical sector: lessons from Australia.
BACKGROUND
Policy-makers worldwide struggle to balance health with industrial policy objectives in the pharmaceutical sector. Tensions arise over pricing and reimbursement in particular. What health plans view as necessary to maintain equitable access to medicines, industry views as inimical to R&D and innovation. Australia has grappled with this issue for years, even incorporating the goal of "maintaining a responsible and viable medicines industry" into its National Medicines Policy.


METHODS
This case study was conducted via a narrative review that examined Australia's experiences balancing health and industrial policy objectives in the pharmaceutical sector. The review included electronic databases, grey literature and government publications for reports on relevant Australian policy published over the period 1985-2007.


RESULTS
While pharmaceutical companies claim that Australia's pricing and reimbursement policies suppress drug prices and reduce profits, national policy audits indicate these claims are misguided. Australia appears to have secured relatively low prices for generics and "me-too drugs" while paying internationally competitive prices for "breakthrough" medicines. Simultaneously, Australia has focused efforts on local pharmaceutical investment through a variety of industry-targeted R&D incentive policies.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that policy reviews suggest that Australia has achieved balance between health and industrial policy objectives, the country continues to face criticism from industry that its health goals harm innovation and R&D. Recent reforms raise the question whether Australia can sustain the apparent balance.
Morgan
Steve
S
Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. morgan@chspr.ubc.ca
McMahon
Meghan
M
Greyson
Devon
D
D001315:Australia; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018954:Drugs, Essential / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012109:Research Support as Topic
D018954:Drugs, Essential