E-drug: Bamako Initiative (cont'd)
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I want to respond to one question raised by Kathy Holloway in her
very insightful comment on the Bamako Initiative. I have recently
completed a review of all of the literature from developed countries on
the effects of cost sharing. There is some evidence that doctors
change the number of units in a prescription in response to the start of
a cost sharing program and they may also start to prescribe less
expensive drugs when there is a choice. However, there is no
research in industrialized countries as to whether or not cost sharing
affects the overall quality of prescribing.
Joel Lexchin MD
121 Walmer Rd.
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5R 2X8
Phone: +1-(416)-964-7186
Fax: +1-(416)-923-9515
e mail: joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca
[This is surprising: No research in industrialized countries as to
whether or not cost sharing affects quality of prescribing? It would
be one of the first things I would want to know! Do other e-druggers
have information? Hilbrand Haak, E-drug moderator]
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