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OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for formulating drug price regulation policy and promoting reasonable drug price. METHODS:According to WHO and HAI drug price standard investigation,questionnaire survey(supplemented by field investigation)about sale price of 63 commonly used drugs with large consumption sum was conducted among 3 districts of different economic development levels in Hubei province. Median price ratio(MPR)was calculated statistically. Primary interview survey(supplemented by literature investigation)about drug distribution cost was conducted among managerial staff of pharmaceutical wholesale and retail enterprises,hospital pharmacy administrators. Suggestions were put forward to control distribution cost and standardizing drug price based on analysis and discussion. RESULTS:Totally 120 questionnaires were sent out,and 118 were effectively received,with effective recovery of 98.33%. Thirty managerial staff from drug wholesale and retail enterprises,hospital pharmacy department were interviewed for investigation of drug distribution cost. MPR of 63 drugs ranged 0.05-44.55 in different types of sample institutions. Among 67 specifications of 53 kinds of drugs,median retail price of 38 specifications(56.72%)was higher than international reference price in first-level sample medical institutions. Among 79 specifications of 63 kinds of drugs,median retail price of 57 specifications(72.15%)was higher than international reference price in second-level sample medical institutions. Among 80 specifications of 63 kinds of drugs,median retail price of 63 specifications(78.75%)was higher than international reference price in third-level sample medical institutions. Among 50 specifications of 37 kinds of drugs,median retail price of 42 specifications(84.00%)was higher than international reference price in sample pharmaceutical retail enterprises. In all sample institutions,maximum MPR of 13 specification were lower than 1;those of 12 specification ranged from 1 to <2;those of 23 specifications ranged from 2 to <5;15 specification ranged from 5 to <10;those of 17 specification were higher than 10. MPR of third-level medical institution samples were higher than those of second-level and first-level ones,and pharmaceutical retail enterprises(P<0.01). MPR of second-level medical institution samples and pharmaceutical retail enterprises were higher than those of first-level medical institutions(P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in the levels of MPR between second-level medical institutions and pharmaceutical retail enterprises(P>0.05). MPR of sample institutions in well-developed regions were higher than in medium-developed or less-developed regions(P<0.01). MPR of sample institutions in medium-developed regions were higher than in less-developed regions(P<0.01). MPR of original drugs were all higher than those of generic drugs in different types of sample institutions(P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in MPR of original drugs among different types of sample institutions(P>0.05). At the same time,MPR of generic drugs in third-level medical institution samples were higher than in second-level and first-level ones and pharmaceutical retail enterprises (P<0.05 or P<0.01). MPR of second-level medical institution samples and pharmaceutical retail enterprises were higher than in first-level ones(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance between second-level medical institution samples and pharmaceutical retail enterprises(P>0.05). Drug production and circulation cost,centralized bidding and purchasing price in Hubei province were higher than the national level. CONCLUSIONS:The drug price of Hubei province is in high level,especially that of three-level medical institutions is higher than other institutions;drug price of well-developed region is higher than those of medium-level and less-developed region;the price of original drugs are higher than those of generic drugs. The cost of pharmaceutical industry,drug circulation cost and the addition of drug price during application link eventually lead to the higher retailing price of drugs. Comprehensive policy measures need to be taken to control the cost of the whole process of drug distribution and to regulate the price of drugs.
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Background: Increasing incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) together with the presence of several comorbidities in chronic kidney disease patients (CKD) could be associated with a relevant economic burden. Aim: The aim of this analysis was to estimate the direct healthcare costs of ESRD and its major comorbidities in Italian patients who were naïve to hemodialysis (HD) recruited for the FARO-2 study. Methods: The FARO-2 study was a retrospective observational study conducted in Italy that evaluated the patterns of treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and related costs in patients naïve to HD. The observational period was 2006–2008. Costs were measured in Euros (reference year: 2008). Resource use for the first 2 periods of 6 months of HD was monetized, with reimbursement calculated for SHPT drugs, phosphate binders, and erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs); HD sessions; and hospitalizations due to ESRD and its major comorbidities. The analysis was performed by the Italian National Health Service (INHS) perspective. Results: 567 patients were observed for at least 2 periods of 6 months. During the first 12 months after the initiation of HD, average direct healthcare costs were assessed using the percentage of patients treated and the average daily dosages (for drugs), the percentage of patients hospitalized and the types of hospitalizations (for inpatients), and the average weekly frequency of HD sessions. Total per-patient yearly costs totaled 34,789.9 €: HD accounted for 66.1% of expenditures, with hospitalizations and drugs accounting for 12.9% and 21.0% of expenditures, respectively (including 17.1% for ESAs). Conclusions: Patients naïve to HD have a significant impact on Italian National Health Service expenditures, although only the costs related to treatment of ESRD and its comorbidities were calculated in the present study. The major cost drivers were HD and ESAs, while SHPT drugs and phosphate binders together accounted for only 3.9% of direct healthcare expenditures.
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Background: Undergraduate medical students acquire knowledge about use of drugs during teaching sessions related to prescription of drugs. Appropriate selection of drugs from the available list of numerous formulations requires skill. This can be imparted using the concept of personal drugs (P-drugs). Knowledge of the price of drugs is important consideration in selection of drug. This paper describes method of introducing medical student to the concept of P-drugs, essential drug list (ED list) and economic aspects of drug utilization. Methods: Students are divided into groups, guided by faculty member. Each group is allotted a clinical case scenario with specific questions; students have to select suitable drugs which can be prescribed. They also have to search for the suitable drug included in the ED list and price of different brands of the same drug. The work done by the group is presented as a report to the whole class. Results: Each group presented the list of P-drugs and ED list and price of the drugs for the selected cases viz.: pharyngitis, urinary tract infection, hypertension, diabetes mellitus. After collecting the information on these aspects each group selected the most appropriate drug for the clinical condition allotted to them. Comparison of prices of various brands provided opportunity to learn about economic aspects of drug use. Conclusion: This method of study using patient oriented problems is a useful method to impart knowledge to medical students about concept of P-drugs, ED list and economic aspects of using drugs.