Current Issues in Pharmacoeconomics 2 ________________________________________________ __

Keeping drug selection for fonnulary inclusion rational

The drug selection process for formulary inclusion is often influenced by nonrational factors, but it doesn't necessarily have to be this way, claim investigators in The Netherlands. The System of Objectified Judgement Analysis (SOJA)* is a model that facilitates rational, evidence-based drug selection for formulary inclusion, they maintain.

Nonrational factors excluded The main advantage of SOJA, say the investigators,

is that it eliminates any nonrational (personal financial, emotional and unconscious) selection criteria. Instead, only drug-related selection criteria are taken into account. These are prospectively defined for a given group of drugs, and always include clinical efficacy, incidence and severity of adverse effects, dosage frequency, drug interactions, acquisition cost, documentation, pharmacokinetics and pharmaceutical aspects. This has the added advantage of preventing formulary decisions from being based on only 1 criterion, such as cost.

A panel of experts assigns each drug a score for each selection criterion, and gives each selection criterion a relative weight according to its considered importance. * see PlulrmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 77: 6, 3 J Aug 1996; 800462303

Janlmegt R. Steenhoek A. The system of objectified judgement analysis (SOJA): a tool in rational drug selection for formulary inclusion. Drugs 53: 550-562. Apr 1997 _92721

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 5 Apr 1997 No. 106 1173-SS03l97/0106-OOO2I$Ol .O<f Adlalnternetlonal Limited 1997. All rlghte F8MfVed