PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 244 - 8 Jan 2000

Pharmacoeconomics – a basis forhealth policy?

Pharmacoeconomics is likely to become anincreasingly important basis for health policy decisionsin the future, say health economy experts in Canada andthe US.*

In their article discussing the current applications ofpharmacoeconomic tools and their implications forshaping public or private health policy, the expertssuggest that pharmacoeconomic analysis has not yetbeen used to its full potential. Although economists haveused cost-benefit analysis for some time, in terms of itsapplication to health policy, the area ofpharmacoeconomics is still ‘in its relative infancy’, theynote. A big gap exists between the availability ofpharmacoeconomic research results and the demandfor these types of studies by private and public policy-makers. Furthermore, some concerns remain regardingthe use of pharmacoeconomic tools for private or publichealth policy decisions.

Patient concernsHowever, many concerns will be eased in the future,

as discussion about the merits and appropriate use ofpharmacoeconomics for policy-making purposes willhelp improve methodologies and quality of data. Betterresource allocation, informed by pharmacoeconomicanalysis, will lead to improved efficiency of healthcareand will provide patients with a higher overall level ofcare, say the experts. However, at the same time,difficult ethical issues will be raised as patients gainincreasing access to information. And, as pressures forcost containment continue, the next decade will likelybring renewed calls from patients for a more equalbalance of costs and benefits.

‘In the future, there is likely to be added impetus forpharmacoeconomic investigation organised aroundcommon patient concerns regarding illnesses andtreatments’, conclude the experts.* One of the health economists was affiliated with Ortho Biotech, US.

Greenberg PE, et al. Pharmacoeconomics and health policy: current applicationsand prospects for the future. PharmacoEconomics 16: 425-432, Part 1, Nov1999 800757507

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 8 Jan 2000 No. 2441173-5503/10/0244-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved