Pharmacoeconomics

The pharmaco-economics is the science that deals with the economic aspects of drug therapy. As a branch of health economics it is like this one intersection of medicine, economics and statistics represents the pharmacoeconomics is made with the help of pharmacoeconomic studies, particularly with the economic evaluation of the application of single or multiple drugs on the quality of care of the patient, the health care provider and the national economy apart. As part of these studies, the costs, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and affordability are evaluated and incorporated into cost analysis, cost-benefit analyzes, cost -effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analyzes. Ethical aspects, such as the equity in health can be considered. The aim of these studies is the best possible solution of a drug therapy to problem with limited financial resources and an increase in the supply efficiency. In Germany, on the basis of the Social Code Book V, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care ( IQWiG) responsible for pharmacoeconomic considerations in the context of the statutory health insurance.

Basic principles

An object of Pharmacoeconomics is the consideration of a therapeutic or associated therewith profit in relation to the costs required for this purpose.

Profit

The profits of the pharmacotherapeutic action, in the simplest case, in the form of surrogate parameters, such as laboratory values ​​or the lowered blood pressure or in the form of patient-relevant efficacy measures (outcomes ), such as, for example, avoided sick days or life years gained, expressed. Taking into account the value in use, the quality of life, a gain of Pharmacoeconomics mostly as a quality- corrected life-years ( QALY ) is specified. With a successful therapy can also be a material gain may be associated, for example, by returning to work.

Costs

On the side of costs, a distinction is made between direct, indirect and intangible costs. The direct costs consist of the price of the drug, any application assistance and, where appropriate, of the working of the medical staff. Indirect costs arise in particular due to reduced capacity to work or stoppage of work. Among the intangible costs, which are difficult aufwiegbar with money, include the loss of leisure by the treatment, and impaired quality of life through pain, physical or mental disorders.