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Background: Given the increasing lifespan of the elderly and the higher proportion of older people in the global population, the incidence rate of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing. The aim of this study is to evaluate, by means of computer simulations, developments in the costs of treating and caring for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the EU 28 by 2080, while assuming the introduction of drug administrations at various disease stages. Methods: Impact analysis leverages a mathematical model that compares five different population development scenarios when introducing different types of drugs to the scenarios but without changing the treatment. Changes in the economic burden are considered as of 2023, when new drugs are expected to enter the market. Findings: The results of the simulations show that by prolonging the length of a person’s ‘stay’ in the Mild, Moderate, or Severe stage, the total cost of care for all persons with AD will increase by 2080. For individual scenarios, the percentage of patients and costs increased as follows: Mild by one year, by 10.61%; Mild by two years, by 17.73%; Moderate by one year, by 16.79%; Moderate by two years, by 34.88%; and Severe by one year, by 23.79%. The change in cost development when prolonging the stay in the Mild cognitive impairment stage (by lowering the incidence by 10%, 30%, or 50%) reduced the cost (by 4.88%, 16.78% and 32.48%, respectively). Interpretation: The results unambiguously show that any intervention prolonging a patient’s stay in any stage will incur additional care costs and an increase in the number of persons with AD. Therefore, extending lifespan is important in terms of improving the quality of life of patients, and the introduction of new drugs must consider the additional costs imposed upon society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate current legislative policies and regulations with respect to the use of orphan drugs, to emphasize strengths and weaknesses of these policies in the period of 2010–2016 in European countries, especially in relation to the objectives set by the European Council in 2009. This was done by the method of literature search in the databases PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science from 2010 to 2016. The findings show a lack of polices for the appraisal and reimbursement of orphan drugs, a lack of uniform European legislation and different orphan drugs expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the economic burden of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) in Europe. On the basis of available data about the number of persons with dementia, their prevalence, and treatment and care costs, a mean cost burden is estimated for the year of 2030 and for the year of 2050 in Europe. The method of retrospective analysis of available sources was used; furthermore, analysis of database data such as WHO and Eurostat, which provide information about the number of older people and people with dementia; and specification of direct and indirect medical and nonmedical costs of patients with AD and PD from current studies was also used. The findings of this study confirm that the number of patients affected with AD and PD, as well as annual costs of the treatment and care of these patients, in the selected European countries are rapidly growing. The cost burden of both AD and PD in the selected European countries rises year by year, and by 2050, the cost burden of both diseases in fact will be almost two times higher in comparison with the year of 2010. In 2050, the overall mean cost burden is estimated to reach 357 billion Euros. The European Union calls for a joint initiative in the development of a uniformed strategic plan in the fight against dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the European Commission, medical products for orphan diseases are those which affect fewer than five persons out of every 10 000. Producers are reluctant to develop these drugs under the common market conditions because the demand for these drugs does not guarantee return on investments into research and development of such products. Patients with orphan diseases, however, have the same rights for treatment as any other patient. To stimulate the research and development of drugs for orphan diseases, the governmental offices introduce various incentives for health and biotechnological industry. This started in the USA already in 1983 by passing a special law. Japan introduced this law in 1993 and Australia in 1997. Europe followed in 1999 by introducing common policy for all member states. The aim of this article is to specify current economic and legislative conditions in European countries and compare them with the legislation and approaches of the countries which started this initiative, i.e. USA, Japan, Australia or Singapore. In addition, the treatment costs of orphan diseases are specified and prospects of this field are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The high quality of public health improves not only healthy life expectancy, but also the productivity of labor. The most important part of the health care sector is the medical technology industry. The aim of this study is to analyze the current situation in the medical device industry in Europe, its potential strengths and weaknesses in the context of topical economic and demographic development. The contribution specifies an analysis of the economic state of the medical device industry in the context of demographic development of European Union's macroeconomic indicators and views of experts in the field of medical device development, concerning the opportunities for entities involved in the medical device market. There is fierce competition on the European market. The innovative activity is stable and well regulated by responsible authorities. Worldwide, the medical device market is expected to grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]