Which countries does the PMPRB compare Canadian patented drug prices with?

The PMPRB, or the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, assesses Canadian prices for patented medications by comparing them with those in several reference countries. The correct choice identifies Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, the UK, and the US, which are part of a set of reference countries recognized for having developed healthcare systems and established pharmaceutical markets.

This comparison allows the PMPRB to evaluate whether Canadian patented drug prices are aligned with prices in these countries, ensuring that consumers in Canada are not paying excessively high prices. The selected countries are known for their high standards of care and pharmaceutical pricing practices, making them relevant benchmarks for the Canadian market.

The other options do not include the appropriate reference countries acknowledged by the PMPRB for this purpose. For example, while Brazil and Argentina are emerging markets, they do not have the same comparison weight in terms of drugs and healthcare systems as the countries listed in the correct choice. Similarly, China and Japan, as well as Australia and New Zealand, have different pricing dynamics and healthcare structures that do not align with the PMPRB's benchmarking criteria.