E-drug: Strategies for Pharmaceutical Cost Containment
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Dear E-Druggers:
I am about to find myself embroiled in a debate on possible
strategies for cost containment (to Governments and therefore the
public purse) and indirectly promoting the rational use of
pharmaceuticals, and wonder what other countries are doing on
this subject. I am familiar with the Australian National
Medicinal Drug Policy (and therefore the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme), vaguely familiar with Managed Care in the States, and
the National Health Service of the United Kingdom. Some of these
strategies therefore include (off the top of my head):
1. the development of National/Local Formularies;
2. consumer co-payment per supply;
3. limiting quantities prescribed;
4. generic prescribing;
5. education, including academic detailing;
6. rational prescribing;
7. increased utilisation of alternative primary care services for
self limiting conditions i.e. OTC self-treatment;
8. increased uptake of private healthcare insurance; etc
I have searched the archives to no avail.....except for "I'm
writing a chapter on cost containment in the drug area for a book
on health policy" - Joel Lexchin, 1996!! 
(comments Joel?) , and PubMed didn't provide much.
Any further ideas or opinions (incl. possible useful references)
on tried and tested, efficient systems? The emphasis on efficient
and equity of access.
Regards
David Ng, BPharm MClinPharm
Affiliation:
An antipodean Australian pharmacist in the UK
davester.europe@btinternet.com
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