This paper examines the European Commission and Member States policies on balancing the competing interests of reducing national public health spending while encouraging the pharmaceutical industry to be competitive. Although the Commission set out to gradually harmonize pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals, it was not able to do so due to resistance from Member States. Overall, national systems govern pricing and reimbursement; this is unlikely to change.
Communication from the commission on the compatibility with Article 30 of the EEC Treaty of measures taken by Member States relating to price controls and reimbursement of medicinal products. 86/C 310/08, OJ No C310/7, 04.12.86.
4.
Directive 89/105/EEC. December 21, 1988.
5.
Directive 89/105 EEC of December 21, 1988 relating to the transparency of measures regulating the pricing of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of national health insurance systems, OJ No L40/8, 11.3.89. III/3001/91-EN.
6.
Report on the measures taken by the Member States for the transposition of the Directive 89/105 EEC, III 3747/91.
7.
BangemanLM. AESP. October 31, 1993.
8.
Personal communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, COM (93) 718,2,3, 1994.
