Health care reform in six Central European countries. A focus on health economic requirements in the drug pricing and reimbursement processes.

This study gives an overview of the health care reform in six Central European countries after the transition from a central planning system to a regulated market economy. We focused on cost containment policies for drugs, especially the requirements for submitting health economic data in the pricing and/or reimbursement processes. The literature review was supplemented with a survey with decision makers at national health authorities in each country. The study covered Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. All countries had in common that health economic information was used in reimbursement rather than in pricing processes. Differences between the six countries were mainly variations in the relative importance of health economic data and the presence of explicit requirements and guidelines. Published health economic guidelines exist in two countries and one of the six countries applies a mandatory submission system for a selected range of new drugs. In most of the Central European countries it is more typical that authorities issue a brief list of required data for reimbursement submissions that include health economic information among other data. There is a generally widespread expectation towards more systematic and formalized requirements for health economic and outcomes research data appearing within the next 3-5 years in the region.

Health care systems in transition: Slovenia

The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series provide detailed descriptions of health systems in the countries of the WHO European Region as well as some additional OECD countries. An individual health system review (HiT) examines the specific approach to the organization, financing and delivery of health services in a particular country and the role of the main actors in the health system. It describes the institutional framework, process, content, and implementation of health and health care policies. HiTs also look at reforms in progress or under development and make an assessment of the health system based on stated objectives and outcomes with respect to various dimensions (health status, equity, quality, efficiency, accountability).

Health care systems in transition: Slovenia

The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series provide detailed descriptions of health systems in the countries of the WHO European Region as well as some additional OECD countries. An individual health system review (HiT) examines the specific approach to the organization, financing and delivery of health services in a particular country and the role of the main actors in the health system. It describes the institutional framework, process, content, and implementation of health and health care policies. HiTs also look at reforms in progress or under development and make an assessment of the health system based on stated objectives and outcomes with respect to various dimensions (health status, equity, quality, efficiency, accountability).