On this page, you can find a selection of relevant reports and studies from independent researchers as well as commissioned studies on independent distribution of medicines in Europe and the sector’s impact on the European Union and its healthcare systems.
The Suppliers of Parallel Imported Medicines in Finland have asked Copenhagen Economics to calculate savings from parallel imports of pharmaceuticals in Finland during 2016–2020. The calculations show direct and indirect savings in the pharmacy and hospital sectors. Additionally, they have determined the savings to taxpayers and patients, including forgone savings.
The increasing prevalence of shortages around the EU is a key concern for Affordable Medicines Europe. Parallel trade is occasionally mentioned as one of the causes. One such myth is the unidirectional travel of medicines from low-income to high-income countries. In this study, we update the facts around the parallel trade flows in Europe, first […]
Parallel imports of pharmaceuticals has taken place in Denmark and the rest of the EU since the 1970s. In 2021, parallel imports accounted for 16% of turnover in the Danish market for medicinal products, an increase of 2% in comparison with 2018. Thanks to a favourable regulatory environment, savings in Denmark have also increased from […]
The increasing prevalence of shortages around the EU is a key concern for Affordable Medicines Europe. Parallel trade is occasionally mentioned as one of the causes. One such myth is the unidirectional travel of medicines from low-income to high-income countries. In this study we update the facts around the parallel trade flows in Europe, first […]
As the prevalence of shortages is becoming a big challenge for healthcare systems, a perception has arisen in Europe that parallel trade of pharmaceuticals is a one-way street, where the medicines go from lower income countries to higher income countries. But unidirectional travel of medicines from low-income to high-income countries is a myth and this […]
Affordable Medicines Europe compiled in one reports the most recent studies on direct and indirect savings in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Poland. The total amount of savings in these four countries added up to €3.2 billion. For Sweden and Germany, the savings figures account for those of the pharmacy market alone, while for Denmark and […]
The association of Polish parallel importers SIRPL analysed the direct and indirect savings coming from parallel imports in the country in a report that was audited by Deloitte. Savings amounted to more than €720 million between 2010 and 2018. Just in 2018, savings added up to €124 million. The report presents the distribution of the […]
The German consulting firm Inno AG built on the results of NERA and extrapolated the proportion of indirect savings calculated by them for the whole German import relevant market. To obtain this, they subtract those medicines with generic competition and those without import alternative from the total market for prescription-only preparations. Indirect savings in Germany […]
Spanish consulting firm analysed the effects of competition from parallel imports on the reduction of the prices of pharmaceuticals in Germany and Sweden.Indirect savings in Germany were found to represent 16.7% of the originators’ revenues for those products with negative correlations that faced parallel trade entry within the analysis period. This can give a better […]
The Swiss economic consulting company Prognos conducted in 2018 an analysis of the direct savings and the potential direct savings for the German market. They were calculated for the years 2015-2018, and they ranged between €202 and €206 million per year throughout the period. The largest amount of savings was found in the group of […]
This study analysed the potential effects of removing parallel imports on prices and government and patients’ health expenditure. The researcher from the University of Melbourne developed a model based on the Danish Market for Statins and found out that a ban on parallel imports would increase the prices of patented medicines and also generics, although […]
The EAEPC published in 2013 a report that built on the results of Enemark and Pedersen and used the same methodology to calculate the savings for a larger set of countries (EAEPC, 2013). Savings in emerging markets as France, Ireland Italy were smaller than in the main PI markets, but still not negligible. Savings amounted […]
Enemark and Pedersen estimated once again the savings for the same four countries (Denmark, Sweden, Germany and UK). This time, average direct savings for the period amounted to €418 million per year. Germany had the largest share of the savings with €289 million; however, Scandinavian markets have increased their share relatively from the results for […]
This study analysed data from Sweden to check if parallel trade increased the competition in the pharmaceutical market, and whether the process of EU enlargement increased pushed the prices even further down. On the one hand, the researchers found out that, indeed, the prices of the drugs facing competition from parallel imports was on average […]
This study calculated direct savings for Denmark, Sweden, Germany and UK that added up to €441,4 million in 2004. They also estimated the indirect savings for Denmark and Sweden for a combined €24,7 million. It is very likely that these indirect savings are underestimated due to methodology constraints.
This report is a thorough analysis of the application of Article 82 EC to supply restrictions It first explains in detail the functioning and regulatory framework of the pharmaceutical market; and after it details why it should be applied on the grounds abuse of dominance. The assessment concludes that competition law should be equally valid […]
This study concludes that even the manufacturers can benefit from parallel trade if certain conditions are met. The results are based on the assumption that, when competitive retailers must order inventories before they know the realisation of the demand, the ability to trade the unsold products incentivise them to make larger orders, to the profit […]
Researchers from the University of York elaborated in 2003 a paper on the benefits of parallel trade for patients and taxpayers. They estimated the direct savings for five countries (UK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark) in 2002 added up to €635 million. Evidence of competitive effects bringing prices of the medicines down in these countries […]
