Parallel trade occurs if international price differences for identical products are high and a policy of regional or international exhaustion of the respective property right has been implemented in the high price country. The work by C. Poget analyses how parallel imports of pharmaceuticals are affecting end consumer prices and drug expenditures in three Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Based on his observations he derives proposals for policy reforms in EU member countries and Switzerland.

Inhalt
to parallel trade.- Parallel trade of pharmaceuticals in Norway.- Parallel trade of pharmaceutical drugs in Denmark.- Parallel imports of pharmaceutical drugs into Sweden.- Increasing payers benefits from parallel trade: Observations from Scandinavia and policy proposals for Europe.- Why do prices not converge? A theoretical assessment.- Welfare effects of parallel trade.- How should Switzerland proceed with its legislation on the exhaustion of patent rights?.- References.