engleski

Respiratory drugs usage in Croatia during a 7-year period

The aim of our study was to identify changes in the usage of respiratory drugs in Croatia from 2001 to 2007. Drugs utilization and financial expenditure data were analysed for R group (respiratory drugs) and particularly for R03 (drugs for obstructive airway disease). The data were obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance (CNHI). Drug utilization is presented in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000) and financial expenditure in Euros. The utilization of the whole R group increased 30.41% and of R03 54.66% (from 15.4 to 23.88 DDD/1000). Financial expenditure for the R group increased 23.18% and for R03 2.64 times. The most frequently used drugs in 2003 were salmetrol and fluticason (financial share of 17.09% and 10.21%). In 2004 fixed combination of salmetrol-fluticasone was introduced on the Positive List resulting in rapid increase in utilization (from 0.59 in 2004 to 5.04 DDD/1000 in 2007) and financial expenditure increased 74%. In the same period there is a decrease of monocomponent preparations, so in 2007 it is half than in 2003 (10.92% and 5.82% of the total). The general increase in respiratory drugs usage and expenditure is induced predominantly because of R03 group increase. The introduction of the new fixed combination (salmetrol-fluticasone) to the Positive List contributed considerably to this increase. During the investigated period some general measures on pricing control were introduced, but some special measures in the future should be focused to R03 group, e.g. education of rational drugs usage and also better control of guidelines prepared by CNHI.

respiratory drugs. utilization; financial expenditure; R03 group

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