The updated EURIPID Guidance Document on External Reference Pricing (ERP) provides practical, evidence-based insights for policymakers across Europe.
A key milestone of the EURIPID ACCESS project has been the update of the EURIPID Guidance Document on External Reference Pricing (ERP). The revision was led by the Bulgarian National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products (NCPR), in close collaboration with partner institutions from Hungary (NEAK), Austria (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH), Poland (AOTMiT), Belgium (RIZIV-INAMI), Slovenia (Javna agencija Republike Slovenije za zdravila in medicinske pripomočke), and Portugal (INFARMED).
The updated guidance is firmly grounded in evidence and builds on published research as well as three core project deliverables:
– a survey among EURIPID members on the use of the existing guidance,
– an assessment of the degree of ERP implementation across countries, and
– a policy brief analysing different ERP models.
EURIPID members were actively involved throughout the revision process, contributing to the survey and engaging in discussions on preliminary findings. In addition, national pricing and reimbursement authorities, public payers, and other stakeholders provided input through a formal consultation process. Further valuable feedback was collected during the EURIPID Stakeholder Dialogue Forum in June 2025.
In December 2025, the Board of Participants formally approved the updated guidance. As External Reference Pricing remains a central instrument for setting medicine prices across Europe, EURIPID emphasises the importance of a well-designed ERP system that supports national pharmaceutical policy objectives while safeguarding patient access. First published in 2018, the guidance continues to assist national authorities in applying ERP in a way that promotes affordability without compromising timely access to medicines.
The updated EURIPID Guidance Document on External Reference Pricing (ERP) is now available on the following link.
