WHO guideline on country pharmaceutical pricing policies
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World Health Organization
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xiii, 48 p.
This second edition WHO guideline provides evidence-informed recommendations to support countries in formulating and implementing pharmaceutical pricing policies that improve affordable and equitable access to quality-assured medicines and vaccines while promoting value for money and maintaining reliable supply. Replacing the 2015 guideline, it reflects updated evidence, accumulated country experience and the growing global concern over unaffordable prices that impede progress towards universal health coverage. Developed according to the WHO handbook for guideline development, the recommendations are based on systematic reviews, GRADE assessment and consideration of implementation, equity, feasibility and sustainability. The guideline presents eight overarching principles for pharmaceutical pricing policies together with recommendations on ten policy options: external and internal reference pricing, value-based pricing, regulation of supply-chain mark-ups, price transparency, tendering and negotiation, promotion of quality-assured generic and biosimilar medicines, pooled procurement, cost-plus pricing, and tax exemptions or reductions. It emphasizes that pricing policies should be selected and adapted according to national health system objectives and contexts, implemented alongside complementary measures, and supported by transparent governance, monitoring and regular review. The guideline is intended primarily for policy-makers and decision-makers, while also informing managers responsible for procurement, distribution and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products.
This second edition WHO guideline provides evidence-informed recommendations to support countries in formulating and implementing pharmaceutical pricing policies that improve affordable and equitable access to quality-assured medicines and vaccines while promoting value for money and maintaining reliable supply. Replacing the 2015 guideline, it reflects updated evidence, accumulated country experience and the growing global concern over unaffordable prices that impede progress towards universal health coverage. Developed according to the WHO handbook for guideline development, the recommendations are based on systematic reviews, GRADE assessment and consideration of implementation, equity, feasibility and sustainability. The guideline presents eight overarching principles for pharmaceutical pricing policies together with recommendations on ten policy options: external and internal reference pricing, value-based pricing, regulation of supply-chain mark-ups, price transparency, tendering and negotiation, promotion of quality-assured generic and biosimilar medicines, pooled procurement, cost-plus pricing, and tax exemptions or reductions. It emphasizes that pricing policies should be selected and adapted according to national health system objectives and contexts, implemented alongside complementary measures, and supported by transparent governance, monitoring and regular review. The guideline is intended primarily for policy-makers and decision-makers, while also informing managers responsible for procurement, distribution and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products.