Healthcare market undergoing transformation: pharmaceutical markets

In the past few years, several changes have been made to the system of reimbursements for medicine costs and the pharmaceutical markets, such as the specifications of the reference price system, the expansion of the substitution of biological medicines at pharmacies, and cuts of 1.5 per cent made to wholesale prices in 2025. At the same time, new, expensive products have entered the markets (e.g., new anti-obesity medicines), whose reimbursability and cost impacts have also sparked public debate. On the other hand, problems and disturbances in the availability of medicines have become more common.

The aim of the project is to examine the impacts of changes that have taken place in the system and to describe the impacts of the global markets on the pharmaceutical market in Finland. In addition, the aim is to examine the impact of the life cycle stage and market stage of medicinal products as well as the impact of conditional substitutability and parallel imports on the price development, consumption, market position and availability of medicinal products.

For example, the project examines the development of the markets of new treatment groups with a significant number of users or significant costs and the use of medicines in these groups. The project also examines the link between the price development of medicines and the availability of medicines. Appropriate statistical and econometric methods are used as research methods. The data are processed both at the statistical level and at the level individuals.

The study produces important new information to support decision-making on medicines policy and health policy and to curb the increase in reimbursements paid from health insurance.

Researchers

• Iiro Ahomäki, Leading Researcher
• Hanna Koskinen
• Mikko Nurminen

Project Implementation Period

1.1.2026–31.12.2028

Privacy statement