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Overview of the Market for Novel Medicines in the WHO European Region

Oslo Medicines Initiative Technical Report

, , and .

Copenhagen Ø, Denmark: World Health Organization; .
ISBN-13: 978-92-890-5820-9

Abstract

The Oslo Medicines Initiative (OMI) is a platform through which stakeholders can collaborate to develop ways of achieving better, more affordable access to novel, high-priced medicines. To provide a foundation for this, a series of technical reports was commissioned to explore the issues, canvass ideas and present potential policy approaches for achieving better access and improved affordability. This introductory paper presents an overview of the issues and the complex dynamics involved. At their core is the concern that while the pharmaceutical industry continues to deliver important new therapies, launch prices are rising rapidly and this increasingly limits access for patients. Overall costs of these products are becoming unsustainable for both health-care systems and the patients they serve. Individual governments have limited bargaining power when procuring medicines, and competing policy goals may run counter to efforts to moderate costs. The OMI technical reports offer a broad landscape of ideas for building a forward-looking agenda to address the long-term interests of patients, payers, providers and the pharmaceutical industry.

Suggested citation:

Årdal C, Lopert R, Mestre-Ferrandiz J. Overview of the market for novel medicines in the WHO European Region. Oslo Medicines Initiative technical report. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NCSA 3.0 IGO.

Oslo Medicines Initiative

Established in 2020, the Oslo Medicines Initiative (OMI) is a collaboration between the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Norwegian Medicines Agency. The OMI aims to provide a neutral platform for the public and the private sectors to jointly outline a vision for equitable and sustainable access to and affordability of effective, novel and high-priced medicines.

In line with the Regional Office's European Programme of Work 2020-2025 - “United Action for Better Health”, equitable and sustainable access to quality medicines is critical for universal health coverage and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The OMI provides a strong focus on equity and on leaving no one behind, and is underpinned by three pillars: solidarity, transparency and sustainability.

The OMI has commissioned a series of technical reports to summarize relevant evidence and provide policy considerations as a basis for discussion to inform its work. These reports are also in line with the implementation of World Health Assembly resolutions, in particular, resolution WHA72.8 on improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines, and other health products.

ISBN 978-92-890-5820-9

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Suggested citation: Årdal C, Lopert R, Mestre-Ferrandiz J. Overview of the market for novel medicines in the WHO European Region. Oslo Medicines Initiative technical report. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NCSA 3.0 IGO.

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Bookshelf ID: NBK587850PMID: 36542738

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