Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
06:16
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Drug expenditure in Ireland 1997-2007
1National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, St James's Hospital, Dublin. mbarry@stjames.ie
Irish Medical Journal
|February 12, 2009
Summary
Community drug prescribing costs are rising rapidly, exceeding €1.74 billion in 2007. New pricing strategies may help control spending, but expensive biologics pose a challenge to cost containment.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Pharmaceutical Policy
Background:
- Community prescribing constitutes a significant portion (approximately 85%) of total drug expenditure.
- Spending on medicines within Community Drugs Schemes saw a five-fold increase from 1997-2007, reaching over €1.74 billion in 2007.
- The escalating year-on-year increase in medicine spending is notably high within Europe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in community drug expenditure.
- To evaluate the potential impact of recent drug pricing and reimbursement developments on containing costs.
- To identify challenges to cost containment, particularly from novel biologic agents.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of drug expenditure data within community settings.
- Review of recent policy developments in drug pricing and reimbursement.
- Assessment of the economic impact of biologic agents on overall drug spending.
Main Results:
- Community drug expenditure has shown a substantial five-fold increase over a decade (1997-2007).
- The Health Service Executive (HSE) aims to reduce or contain drug expenditure, aligning with European Union (EU) member state strategies.
- Emerging expensive biologic agents for cancer and chronic conditions present a significant threat to cost containment efforts.
Conclusions:
- While recent pricing and reimbursement strategies offer potential for cost containment, they face considerable pressure from the introduction of high-cost biologic therapies.
- Effective management of community drug expenditure requires a balanced approach that considers both cost-saving measures and access to innovative treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Drug Control Governance: Regulatory Bodies and Their Impact
Drug control governance involves the oversight and regulation of pharmaceuticals to ensure their safety and efficacy while preventing illegal drug use and trafficking. Regulatory bodies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union's European Medicines Agency (EMA), play a central role in this process. These agencies evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs before they can be marketed. They fund clinical trials and assess the benefits and risks associated with a...
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
01:25Drug Regulation
Drug regulation encompasses the management of drug usage by evaluating its safety and efficacy through assessments conducted by regulatory authorities. Regrettably, the history of drug regulation is marred by several catastrophic events. One such incident is the Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy, in which the toxic compound diethyl glycol was included in a sweet-tasting medication, leading to numerous fatalities. This event prompted the enactment of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938. Under...
01:11Secondary Healthcare System
Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.