Paying for Prescription Drugs Around the World: Why Is the U.S. an Outlier?

Commonwealth Fund October 5, 2017
Dana O. Sarnak, David Squires, Greg Kuzmak, Shawn Bishop

Prescription drug spending in the U.S. far exceeds that in other high-income countries.

Higher prices, and greater use of higher-priced drugs, make the U.S. an outlier on prescription drug spending.

Abstract

Issue:Compared with other high-income countries, the United States spends the most per capita on prescription drugs.
Goal:To compare drug spending levels and trends in the U.S. and nine other high-income countries — Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; consider potential explanations for higher U.S. spending; and explore patients’ exposure to pharmaceutical costs.
Method:Analysis of health data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the 2016 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, and other sources.
Findings and Conclusions:Various factors contribute to...

Today's Sponsors