Fighting excessive pharmaceutical prices: Evaluating the options

Background New treatment options for various cancer therapies have appeared extremely expensive and prices may increase further. The affordability and availability of life-saving medicines is therefore a key issue in national health policies of all countries. Fighting excessive pharmaceutical prices, this paper examined a 'toolbox' of price reducing measures, provided by international law (e.g., compulsory licensing, pharmacy's exemption, price transparency and mandatory disclosure, competition authorities' review unfair prices, crossborder purchasing medicines). Results Evaluating the options, states remain hesitant, if not reluctant to apply for compulsory licensing and or other regulatory options to curtail pharmaceutical prices. Instead, Cross-border collaboration on (price and cost) negotiation of selective medicines seems the most feasible remedy to create advantages of economies of scale, and thus providing access to affordable new medicines. Conclusions Despite some obstacles, voluntary cross-border purchasing arrangements are a meaningful option to safeguard access to affordable innovative medicines, particularly for small countries Methods Legal analysis treaty law, provisions, case law, and literature. Key messages Voluntary cross-border purchasing arrangements are a meaningful option to safeguard access to affordable innovative medicines. Particularly for small countries.