Και στις ΗΠΑ (και όχι μόνο στην Ελλάδα) οι Ιατροί φαίνεται να έχουν άγνοια για τις χονδρικές τιμές των φαρμάκων και την συμμετοχή των ασθενών.
Βέβαια στην Ελλάδα θα μιλάγαμε μάλλον για Λιανικές τιμές και όχι για Χονδρικές, μια και στην χώρα μας όποιος έχει λεφτά πάει και παίρνει σχεδόν όποιο φάρμακο θέλει από το φαρμακείο ακόμη και χωρίς συνταγή. (δεν χρειάζεται να είναι έμπορος)August 20, 2015
Co-Payments and Average Wholesale Price Vary Widely and Unpredictably for Topical CorticosteroidsThomas L. Schwenk, MD reviewing Skojec A et al. JAMA Dermatol 2015 Aug 19.
Drugs of the same potency vary several-fold in average wholesale price.
Physicians often are unaware of the cost to patients of medications they prescribe. The cost of topical corticosteroids was explored using a national pharmaceutical database that provided a patient's actual co-payment and the average wholesale price for topical corticosteroids of varying potencies.
For all topical corticosteroids, the cost per gram varied widely by amount of medication dispensed. For example, average co-pay for triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% was 12 times higher for a 15-g tube (US$0.24/g) than for a 454-g container ($0.02/g). Co-pays for branded drugs were three to five times higher than co-pays for generic drugs; average co-pay for 60-g clobetasol propionate 0.05% was $32.55 for a branded form versus $7.42 for a generic. Co-pays for corticosteroids of similar potency (e.g., clobetasol propionate 0.05% and fluocinonide acetonide 0.05%) were similar (about $7 for a 60-g tube) but the average wholesale price was 10-fold higher for branded clobetasol vs. generic fluocinonide ($319 vs. $33).
Comment
These data illustrate the many problems physicians face in trying to prescribe topical corticosteroids (and likely, most other classes of medication) in a cost-effective fashion. Co-payment data are not widely and conveniently available. Some patients actually might be paying full retail prices if they have insurance plans with high deductibles.
A physician might be asked to refill a medication started (and extolled) by another physician but known to be much more expensive than alternatives. (και αν δεν το βιώνουμε και εμείς στην Ελλάδα...). We will continue to struggle with prescribing sensibly until price transparency is achieved.
Editor Disclosures at Time of Publication
Disclosures for Thomas L. Schwenk, MD at time of publication Editorial boards UpToDate
Citation(s):
Skojec A et al. Variation in the cost of generic topical corticosteroids. JAMA Dermatol 2015 Aug 19; [e-pub]. (Δεν είναι ορατοί οι σύνδεσμοι (links).
Εγγραφή ή
Είσοδος)
- See more at: Δεν είναι ορατοί οι σύνδεσμοι (links).
Εγγραφή ή
ΕίσοδοςΗ μετάφραση κάποιων ορολογιών από τα Αγγλικά στα Ελληνικά:
wholesale price = χονδρική τιμή
retail price = λιανική τιμή
a patient's actual co-payment = co-payment = co-pay = η εισφορά του ασθενούς στην αγορά του φαρμάκου
beneficiary = ο δικαιούχος (στην περίπτωση του παραπάνου άρθρου θα το μεταφράζαμε στα Ελληνικά "ασφαλισμένος")
brand name drugs = branded drugs = πρωτότυπα φάρμακα
generic drugs = γενόσημα φάρμακα
A physician might be asked to refill a medication started (and extolled) by another physician = ανανέωση συνταγών που έχει ξεκινήσει άλλος Ιατρός = "συνταγογράφηση "