Report on pharmaceutical prices
Historical archive
Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of Health and Care Services
News story | Date: 24/06/2008
English translation of a recent report on pharmaceutical prices in Norway compared to prices in nine reference countries.
In a recent report on pharmaceutical prices, which the Institute for Research in Economics and Business Administration (SNF) has done for the Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway has been found to have among the lowest prices when compared to the following nine countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The report comprises the 300 most-selling (in sales value) pharmaceuticals in Norway, with prices from the first half of 2007. The report shows that Norway is among the least expensive countries, whether one looks at:
- an index for all pharmaceuticals
- separate indices for
* patented pharmaceuticals
* pharmaceuticals with generic competition
Prices in Norway are particularly low compared to the other countries when using a separate index for pharmaceuticals included in the Norwegian step price system.
The report also suggests that Norway has among the lowest wholesale and retail margins.