”Because at the heart of the apparent conflict between public health concerns and capitalistic interests, market access for pharmaceuticals is largely driven by political considerations, the difference with usual consumer goods being that pharmaceuticals are saving lives or years of life in good health”. 

If pharmaceutical companies are to innovate, they must be incentivised with prices that reflect the value of their products, and the resources and risks involved in their production. To ensure appropriate access to new drugs and treatments for patients in need around the world, affordability is key. How do we tackle this dilemma? 

This question is critical for all stakeholders. The development of universal health coverage puts pressure on governments to directly or indirectly control reimbursement and prices of pharmaceuticals, whereas the flow of innovations addressing infectious, chronic, and life-threatening diseases is growing constantly. This book summarizes various global approaches to solving this dilemma and explores new trends. Thanks to the ‘toolbox’ proposed by the authors, not only students but also executives from companies, payers, regulators and patients’ organizations can benefit from the supporting concepts and methods that favour greater access to pharmaceuticals.  

“Based on the concept of drug whole life cycle, the authors have established a framework of value assessment, pricing and reimbursement for pharmaceuticals and illustrates how different health systems are facing a variety of challenges and opportunities. The book addresses, governmental and market forces impacting on market access from a global perspective taking into account politics, regulations, culture, ethics, and values. The content of this book has been shaped by three years of teach-ing practice in CEIBS and has been well received. Another feature is a large number of cases in each chapter from the United States, the European Union, and China.” — Shanlian Hu. MD, MSc. Professor of Health Economics, School of Public Health, Fudan University

“If health is indeed a ‘supreme good’ that every human being deserves, achieving it involves navigating a complex web of factors, including scientific advancement, public policy, economic limitations, and organization development. These factors vary widely across different regions and over time. The role of pharmaceuticals in promoting health is pivotal. Therefore, the study of pharmaceutical market ac-cess must extend beyond the context of developed nations to include the unique challenges and op-portunities in emerging and developing countries. This book by Eric Boutellier and Annie Chicoye is a timely and valuable resource that will significantly benefit students and professionals in the field.” — Gérard Viens, Emeritus Professor, Health Economics, ESSEC Graduate School

I highly recommend this book for not only providing the economic fundamentals but also explaining the complexities and challenges in improving real-world access for patients —Prof Lou Garisson, Washington University

Eric Bouteiller is Adjunct Professor at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) with a focus on pharmaceutical and health care industries.
Annie Chicoye is Health Economist, teaching at Sciences Po Paris, School of Public Affairs, on health product industries and at CEIBS in Shanghai with Professor Bouteiller.