Development and performance of the external reference pricing system in Slovenia from 2007 to 2012

Influence of generic reference pricing on medicine cost in Slovenia: a retrospective study

“…The MAP decline could be a consequence of price decreases in three reference countries, ie, Germany, Austria, and France. However, it could also be a consequence of the frequent changes in external reference pricing methodology introduced by the changes of the Rules on Determining the Prices of Medicinal Products for Human Use ( 5 ). In contrast, the MRP and actual wholesale prices depend on the local generic competition and activities of the HIIS, which changes (reduces) MRPs of interchangeable medicines approximately every two months and negotiates prices with MAHs for the reimbursement of medicines.…”

“…As in most European countries, the pricing of reimbursed medicines in Slovenia is based on the external reference pricing system ( 1 ), defined by the Rules on Determining the Prices of Medicinal Products for Human Use ( 4 ). The maximum allowed price (MAP) of generics is determined on the basis of the average price in the three reference countries (Austria, France, and Germany), whereas the MAP of originators and biosimilars is determined on the basis of the lowest price among the reference countries ( 5 ). However, MAPs are wholesale prices that usually represent the theoretical prices and are typically not the final or actual prices reimbursed by the public health care payer ( 6 ).…”