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Summary: France

France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. However, in recent years concerns over the social security deficit have been increasing and government has introduced a series of reforms to cut costs all the while expanding the reach of its services. Pharmaceutical expenditures in particular have been rising significantly largely due to an ageing population and increase in the consumption of new more expensive drugs.

As government has tried to cut back on drug spend, relations with the pharmaceutical industry have suffered. In 2003 a framework agreement was signed between the State and industry with mutual assurances in increased transparency, exchange of information and speeding up of registration procedures for new products. In July 2004 the government passed a reform package of its healthcare system. Many of the provisions aim to contain costs on the supply side of the market yet measures have been adopted to contain the culture of over-prescription by doctors and over-consumption by patients