Chapter 13: Pharmaceutical Pricing, Reimbursement, and Prescribing in Spain

Pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement, and prescribing in Spain The Spanish healthcare system has traditionally offered its beneficiaries very generous reimbursement terms for prescription drugs, the result being that Spain has a high level of pharmaceutical consumption. Nevertheless, the Spanish market has always been challenging for pharmaceutical companies: prices are among the lowest in Europe, and manufacturers face tough negotiations to set pricing and reimbursement terms for drugs that are covered by the national healthcare system. Despite these low prices, the Spanish government has imposed a wide range of cost-containment measures on the pharmaceutical industry. The Socialist government, elected in April 2004, has shown signs that its pharmaceutical cost-containment strategy may focus increasingly on multinational pharmaceutical companies. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Spain spent 7.6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare in 2002 – significantly less than the European Union (EU) average of 8.5%. In 2000, ...

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