Miomira Vitezić

PMS52 NSAIDS CONSUMPTION IN CROATIA: THE EFFECTS OF PRICING POLICY CHANGES

The aim of this study was to detect changes in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) financial expenditure and consumption according to the legal changes especially considering pricing policy (restrictive comparative pricing). Further, to analyze possible influences of new studies (connection between NSAIDs and increased cardiovascular risks) on NSAIDs utilization. The data was obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance Institute and from pharmaceutical wholesalers for the seven-year period (2001-2007). Financial expenditure data are presented in Euros, while drug utilization data are presented in defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000). In the investigated period the total expenditure of the group increased 10.39% while the related consumption of NSAID increased 1.95% (41.404 DDD/1000 to 42.224 DDD/1000). During the first part of the investigated period (from 2001-2005), before new pricing policy was introduced, the expenditure of NSAIDs increased 15.72% and the related consumption 5.92%. After the new measures were introduced (2005), in the period from 2005-2007 the financial expenditure of NSAIDs decreased 24.04% while usage decreased 4.03%. For the entire period diclofenac was the most frequently prescribed NSAID, but its share in the total consumption of NSAIDs decreased from 54.33 % in 2001 to 41.84% in 2007. The usage of NSAIDs in Croatia increased during the investigated period, so in 2005 new pricing policy was introduced to slow down the financial expenditure. This resulted in a considerable financial decrease and the usage was almost on the same level. The decrease of diclofenac usage in 2007 could be explained as the result of the published studies (the end of 2006) concerning its cardiovascular side effects.