Myths over medicines consumption and prices in Norway reviewed by trade group LMI

There are a number of myths about overconsumption of and high prices for medicines in Norway. However, they are usually quite far from the truth, says the country's pharmaceutical manufacturers association, LMI, in a 90-page booklet of pharmaceutical statistics released last week.

In 2011, Norway had the lowest consumption of medicines in the Nordic countries. It was well below the average. In Western Europe, only the UK has lower prices on patented medicines than Norway, and even that may prove to be a temporary situation. Over the past decade, prices for Norwegian medicines have fallen by an average of 2.4% annually, while the consumer price index has risen by 1.8% on average. The result is an average annual price reduction (adjusted for inflation) of just over 4%.

Whereas health budgets are expanding considerably, the share used on medicines is falling. In 2005, medicines accounted for only 7.6% of public health expenses. Four years later the figure was 6.4%, and it continues to fall.