Agreement between Denmark and Norway to Negotiate Jointly Procurement of Medicines

• 19/09/2018
• Articles

The Danish and Norwegian governments signed on 18 September 2018 a letter of intent (“LOI”) indicating that they will step up their cooperation in the field of procurement of medicines and to that end create the institutional architecture that allows for joint negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry. We attach for your information a copy of the LOI as well as press releases on the subject issued by the Danish and Norwegian health ministries.
 
Both governments seek to intensify their cooperation in order to cope with increasing medicine costs and ensure security of supply in the face of more frequent medicine shortages. They have directed their agencies in charge of purchasing, Amgros and Lis, to develop the conditions for joint price negotiations and thus build on earlier initiatives in that area. The Danish government specifically cites the example of Biogen’s Spinraza® which had already formed the subject of the first successfully concluded price negotiations under the aegis of the Beneluxa cooperation agreement (see our article of 12 July 2018).
 
Lastly, as a reflection of a trend also visible elsewhere in Europe, the Danish and Norwegian governments invite other governments to join their initiative.