Creative Commons

This dissertation, completed as part of the MSc program Bioeconomy Biotechnology and Law at the International Hellenic University. In the context of global healthcare, the complex relationship between the cost of pharmaceutical drugs and the larger structure of country economies is a critical issue. This thesis delves deeply into the complex world of medication pricing strategies and their significant economic ramifications. Starting with the fundamentals of cost-plus pricing and moving on to the international dynamics of international price indexing, this study carefully explains the complex interactions between these pricing techniques and the far-reaching impacts they have on the economies of various nations. The report includes a thorough examination of drug price policies in several important areas, such as the US, Europe, the UK, Australia, China, and Greece. Through an examination of this wide range of healthcare systems, legal structures, and cultural environments, the study seeks to shed light on the intricate network of variables that affect medication prices and, in turn, mold the economic outcomes on a national and worldwide scale. By doing this, it hopes to provide stakeholders, lawmakers, and medical experts with the information they need to strike a careful balance between national budgetary stability and healthcare accessibility. This dissertation acknowledges the completion of the MSc program in Bioeconomy Biotechnology and Law at the International Hellenic University and expresses gratitude to the supervisor Ioannis Kroustallis for his invaluable guidance throughout the writing process. The author extends appreciation to collaborators and other scientists whose contributions enriched the study, collectively advancing knowledge in this critical area of pharmaceutical economics and global healthcare dynamics. Keywords: Pharmaceutical economics, Medication pricing strategies, Cost-plus pricing, International price indexing, Global healthcare, Economic ramifications, Healthcare systems, Drug price policies, National economies, Health policy, Economic sustainability, Stakeholder empowerment.