engleski

Drug consumption in Croatia: The effects of pricing policy changes

The aim of this study is to detect changes in total drug usage and financial expenditure according to legal changes in Croatia, especially considering pricing policy. The data were obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance Institute for the eight-year period (2001-2008). Financial expenditure data are presented in Euros, while drug utilization data are presented in defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000). During the investigated period drug usage increased 81.33%, while financial expenditure increased 77.23%. ATC C-group (cardiovascular drugs) represents approximately 30% of annual financial expenditure and 50 % of total DDD/1000. While total DDD/1000 increased for approximately 10% every year, financial expenditure increased 10-20% annually until 2006, but since then there have been no significant changes. After the introduction of the new pricing system, at the end of 2005, there was a decrease in price which is calculated in Euro/DDD. This decrease differs from 2-20 % relating to diferent ATC groups, i.e. for C-group is 15.85%. Drugs usage and financial expenditure increased during the investigated period. As a result of the introduction of the new pricing system, which regulates prices of the new original drugs and also stimulates generics prescription, there has been a significant decrease in total financial expenditure.

drug; consumption; cardiovascular drugs; generics; drug prices

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