This paper analyzes patient cost-sharing arrangements for prescriptiononly pharmaceuticals in the 27 European Union (EU) member states. These arrangements are matched to the value of prescription-only pharmaceuticals consumption in these countries to search for relationships. Data are collected based on a literature review  nd are analyzed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The results indicate no relationship between the cost-sharing payments arrangements for prescription-only pharmaceuticals and the value of prescription-only pharmaceuticals consumption. The lack of statistically significant results leads to conclusion that the potential implementation of the cost-sharing scheme for prescription-only pharmaceuticals can not base solely on the other countries experience. The different motivation for implementing the cost-sharing should be considered together with the following aspects: willingness to pay, potential effects on equity and detailed assessment of advantages and disadvantages of different pharmaceuticals usage.

This paper analyzes patient cost-sharing arrangements for prescriptiononly pharmaceuticals in the 27 European Union (EU) member states. These arrangements are matched to the value of prescription-only pharmaceuticals consumption in these countries to search for relationships. Data are collected based on a literature review  nd are analyzed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The results indicate no relationship between the cost-sharing payments arrangements for prescription-only pharmaceuticals and the value of prescription-only pharmaceuticals consumption. The lack of statistically significant results leads to conclusion that the potential implementation of the cost-sharing scheme for prescription-only pharmaceuticals can not base solely on the other countries experience. The different motivation for implementing the cost-sharing should be considered together with the following aspects: willingness to pay, potential effects on equity and detailed assessment of advantages and disadvantages of different pharmaceuticals usage.