A review of respiratory medicines expenditure in the primary care reimbursement services: 2005-2015

O'Dwyer, Jackie

A review of respiratory medicines expenditure in the primary care reimbursement services: 2005-2015

Files

JackieODwyerCARLreport2017IrishAsthmaSociety.pdf(847.92 KB)

Published Version

Date

2017-03-20

Authors

O'Dwyer, Jackie

Publisher

Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork

Abstract

Respiratory disease, is part of the Governments chronic disease management policy. The aim is to manage chronic disease patients as close to their home for as long as possible. The economic benefit of this is to improve medicine adherence and avoid the cost of emergency hospital admissions. One adherence barrier is cost of medicines. The aim of this report was to gain clarity on respiratory medicines expenditure for an eleven year period from 2005-2015. Findings showed that expenditure on all medicines have been decreasing in recent years, with 2015 figures being less than expenditure in 2006. Respiratory medicines have been less than 10% of total medicines expenditure in the PCRS during this time. Drugs for OPD are the most frequently prescribed and highest expenditure medicine class. B2 stimulants are the most frequently prescribed drug group and B2 stimulants and corticoids have the highest expenditure.87% of drugs to treat OPD are dispensed publicly and 13% privately. A scenario analysis estimated that the extra cost to the State ranged between €20.2m to €33.8m, to provide respiratory medicines through public schemes, thus removing a barrier to adherence. By improving adherence rates the department is providing best outcomes and use of its finite resources.

Keywords

Respiratory medicines expenditure , Primary care , Reimbursement services , Respiratory disease , Chronic disease management policy , Cost of emergency hospital admissions , Expenditure on medicines

Citation

O’Dwyer, J. (2017) A review of respiratory medicines expenditure in the primary care reimbursement services: 2005-2015. Cork: Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork.