Parallel Trade: Switzerland, The EU, And The US - International Society For Pharmacoeconomics And Outcomes Research

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 20 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Parallel Trade of pharmaceutical products has become a common phenomenon in many parts of the world, with significant impact on the healthcare systems of the countries involved.

An overview of the status quo of parallel trade of pharmaceuticals was performed to investigate its economic, political and legal background as well as to assess its consequences on research, public health, and health care financing.

The impact of pharmaceutical parallel trade (PPT) is significant, not only through its direct effect on the expenditure of payers (= national and/or private health insurers), but also on legislators as well as on research based pharmaceutical companies due to its global nature, effecting international relations via differing treatment of Intellectual Property (IP) Law. The study was authored by Thomas Bart of the Swiss Foundation Blood stem cells.

Says Dr. Bart, "Parallel trade of pharmaceuticals can't objectively be treated by single-handedly focusing on one aspect of this phenomenon. Various issues were reviewed that may arise through a differentiated view of the phenomenon, comprising economical, political, legal and public health analysis."

The status quo of pharmaceutical parallel trade will be discussed in of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research.

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 3,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

Value in Health Volume 11 Issue 5
ABSTRACT

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