Financial Burden of Prescribed Medicines Included in Outpatient Benefits Package Schemes: Comparative Analysis of Co-Payments for Reimbursable Medicines in European Countries.
Appl Health Econ Health Policy
; 17(6): 803-816, 2019 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31506879
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The study aimed to analyse the financial burden that co-payments for prescribed and reimbursed medicines pose on patients in European countries.METHODS:
Five medicines used in acute conditions (antibiotic, analgesic) and in chronic care (hypertension, asthma, diabetes) were selected. Co-payments (standard and five defined population groups, e.g. low-income people, patients with high consumption) were surveyed based on information retrieved from national price lists (September 2017) and co-payment regulation in nine countries (Albania, Austria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Sweden). The financial burden of the selected medicines (originator and lowest-priced generic) was described as the percentage of patients' payments for 1 month's therapy or treatment of one episode in comparison to the national minimum monthly wage.RESULTS:
The study showed large variation in co-payments between the countries. Financial burden resulting from co-payments for reimbursed medicines tended to be higher in lower-income countries (Kyrgyzstan 9% of minimum monthly wage for generic amlodipine; 2-4% for generic and originator salbutamol; Albania approximately 3% for originator amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and metformin). Most studied countries applied reduction or exemption mechanisms (children were exempt in five countries, no or lower co-payments for low-income people in five countries, exemptions from co-payments upon reaching a threshold of expenses in six countries).CONCLUSIONS:
Co-payments for prescribed medicines can pose a substantial financial burden for outpatients, particularly in lower-income countries. The price of a medicine, availability of lower-priced medicines and the design of co-payments, including exemptions and reductions for specific groups, can considerably impact patients' expenses for medicines.
Texto completo:
1
Temas:
ECOS
/
Aspectos_gerais
/
Financiamentos_gastos
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pacientes Ambulatoriais
/
Custo Compartilhado de Seguro
/
Medicamentos sob Prescrição
/
Financiamento Pessoal
Tipo de estudo:
Health_economic_evaluation
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Appl Health Econ Health Policy
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Áustria