Can regulators influence the affordability of medicines?

The growing problem of high medicine prices and its impact on the sustainability of health care systems is getting more and more attention in many countries around the globe. Regulators are willing to play their part in solving the problem and in facilitating continued access of patients to safe and effective medicines.

In an article published today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) two representatives of the European Medicines Agency, ie, its executive director Guido Rasi, and senior medical officer Hans-Georg Eichler, as well as heads of two national agencies discuss possible regulatory interventions.

Even though the pricing of medicines is clearly out of their remit, medicine regulators cannot ignore the current debate on the cost of medicines and can make a contribution to affordable care, explain the authors in their article, titled ‘ Drug regulation and pricing – can regulators influence affordability?’