title: Policy interventions related to medicines: Survey of measures taken in European countries during 2010-2015.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Policy-makers can use a menu of pharmaceutical policy options. This study aimed to survey these measures that were implemented in European countries between 2010 and 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  We did bi-annual surveys with competent authorities of the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information network. Additionally, we consulted posters produced by members of this network as well as further published literature. Information on 32 European countries (all European Union Member States excluding Luxembourg; Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey) was included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  557 measures were reported between January 2010 and December 2015. The most frequently mentioned measure was price reductions and price freezes, followed by changes in patient co-payments, modifications related to the reimbursement lists and changes in distribution remuneration. Most policy measures were identified in Portugal, Greece, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Spain and Germany. 22% of the measures surveyed could be classified as austerity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Countries that were strongly hit by the financial crisis implemented most policy changes, usually aiming to generate savings and briefly after the emergence of the crisis. Improvements in the economic situation tended to lead to an easing of austerity measures. Countries also implemented policies that aimed to enhance enforcement of existing measures and increase efficiency.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies, Pharmacoeconomics Department, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (Austrian Public Health Institute), Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: sabine.vogler@goeg.at.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogler
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies, Pharmacoeconomics Department, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (Austrian Public Health Institute), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Joncheere
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D016527:Drug Costs; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000191:economics*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics*; D011050:Policy Making; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Crisis; Europe; Intervention; Pharmaceutical policy; Pricing; Reimbursement