Abstract

Innovation policy instruments are policy interventions with a specific mechanism of action that influences the innovation process. This Oslo Medicines Initiative technical report presents a broad range of such instruments available to national policy-makers in support of innovation for new medicines (excluding those focused on price, which are covered elsewhere in the report series). This report explores various types of policy instruments, based on reviews of the literature on policies for innovation in the medical and other sectors. For each type identified, the report explores the mechanisms of action, the effects these have and where they occur, and the extent to which these instruments have been implemented globally. It also sets out considerations for their effective implementation. The report demonstrates that the long-established push/pull (supply/demand) framing that dominates discourse around medical innovation can be broadened, providing policy-makers with instruments to supplement push/pull approaches, by emphasizing the role of communication, collaboration and coordination in supporting the emergence of medicines to address societal needs.

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Executive summary
• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1. Purpose
  • 1.2. Approach
• 2 Innovation policy instruments in context
  • 2.1. Background
  • 2.2. What is the aim that the policy instruments are aligned to achieve?
  • 2.3. What is the governance mode of the innovation policy instrument?
  • 2.4. Which constituencies of the innovation system do the policy instruments target?
• 3 Policy instruments for medical innovation
  • 3.1. Mechanisms of action
  • 3.2. Mapping policy instrument families onto the 3×3 approach
  • 3.3. Position in the product life-cycle
  • 3.4. The relative level of adoption of policy instruments globally
  • 3.5. The main direct effects of policy instruments on developers of medicines
  • 3.6. Key implementation issues
• 4. Systematic use of policy instruments for medical innovation
  • 4.1. From policy instruments to policy instrument mixes
  • 4.2. Key messages on applying policy instruments in practice
  • 4.3. Limitations of this study
  • 4.4. Opportunities for further research
• References
• Annex 1. Search strategy for section 2 on wider innovation policy instruments
• Annex 2. Search strategy for section 3 on policy instruments to encourage medical innovation

Suggested citation:

Mestre-Ferrandiz J, Shaw B, Chatterjee C, Ding J, Singh P and Hopkins MM. Policy instruments (non-price) for medical innovation. Oslo Medicines Initiative technical report. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 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 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: 978-92-890-5822-3

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Suggested citation: Mestre-Ferrandiz J, Shaw B, Chatterjee C, Ding J, Singh P and Hopkins MM. Policy instruments (non-price) for medical innovation. Oslo Medicines Initiative technical report. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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