engleski

Drug usage by outpatients in Croatia during an 8-year period: Influence of changes in pricing policy

The aim of our study was to investigate the changes in drugs usage and financial expenditure according to legal changes in Croatia during the period 2001-2008, especially considering pricing policy. The data on outpatient drugs usage during the studied period were obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance (CNHI). CNHI maintains a database on drugs prescribed by primary health care physicians and dispensed by pharmacies. The data were calculated and presented in defined daily doses (DDD) per inhabitant per year for antibiotics and in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day for other drugs. The data are presented also in Euro/DDD and the financial expenditures are presented in Euros. During the investigated period drug usage increased 81.33%, while financial expenditure increased 77.23%. 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. Pricing policy changes could influence drug financial expenditure considerably in the short- term, but it is also important to apply a combination of measures for drug expenditure control. Numerous interventions, from authorities from different countries all over the world, prove that there is still no so called 'gold standard' which could restrain growing usage and expenditure of drugs. Clinical pharmacologists and clinical pharmacists should be included in these processes.

defined daily doses; drug usage; financial expenditure; drug pricing

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