Drug price setting and regulation in France

In France, drug prices have historically been regulated but approaches to setting and regulating prices have been evolving in recent years. In 2003, the prices of new outpatient drugs, which had hitherto been entirely regulated, were semi-liberalised, with drug companies setting prices in line with those in neighbouring countries; and in parallel with this in 2004, the prices of expensive drugs and/or drugs qualifying for reassignment must now also be set in line with European prices. In addition to this, price/volume regulation has recently been introduced. This document describes the price setting rules applicable to each drug category and discusses different measures for regulating drug price, particu-larly the conventional policies implemented under successive framework agreements. The regulatory path for medicines and the different actors involved are presented in an Appendix.Drugs, Regulation, Public Health

Evolution 1998-2002 of the antidepressant consumption in France, Germany and the United Kingdom

The aim of this paper is to compare the evolution of antidepressant consumption in France, Germany and the United Kingdom between 1998 and 2002. Commercial databases (IMS Health) have been used in conjunction with administrative data (PACT for the UK, GKV for Germany and Afssaps for France) to estimate antidepressant consumption in Daily Defined Doses. The main results are: (1) Antidepressant consumption has increased significantly over the last decade in France (x2), Germany (x2.4) and the UK (x3.8); (2) SSRIs are the most heavily consumed drugs in France (67%) and the UK (60%); (3) Germany is distinguished by an overall level of antidepressant consumption twice as low as the other two countries and a relatively low use of SSRI antidepressants (31%), in favour of TCAs. In conclusion, the combined use of administrative and commercial data is possible for an evaluation of the volume of consumption. This study sheds both medical and economic light on the differences in both the level and structure of consumption in these three countries.antidepressant consumption, SSRI, France, UK, Germany

L'apport de l'informatique dans la pratique médicale libérale. Etude FORMMEL 2000

L'ordonnance du 24 avril 1996, relative à la maîtrise médicalisée des dépenses de santé, prévoyait une informatisation de l'ensemble des cabinets de médecine libérale avant le 31 décembre 1998. Cette informatisation était liée à la généralisation de la carte SESAM-VITALE à tous les assurés sociaux et à la télétransmission des feuilles de soins électroniques (FSE), directement du cabinet médical à la caisse d'assurance maladie. Bien que cet objectif ne soit pas atteint aujourd'hui (65% de généralistes informatisés au printemps 1999). Cette enquête qui a démarré en juin 1998, tente d'évaluer l'apport de l'informatique dans la pratique médicale libérale. (Résumé adapté du texte)