THE PHARMACEUTICAL-INDUSTRY AND HEALTH REFORM - LESSONS FROM EUROPE

Many countries in Europe, which have significant pharmaceutical indust ries, recently have embarked on reforms in the organization of their h ealth care systems and methods of regulating the pharmaceutical market . This paper describes the different systems in major European countri es and the changes taking place. Although it is too early to make fina l judgment on the impact of these changes, it is possible to predict s ome of the more likely outcomes. The organizational models and regulat ory approaches in Europe offer a useful store of experience for those assessing the potential impact of reform proposals in the United State s.