Drugs with the highest drug expenditure in the Republic of Serbia

Milijašević Boris Ž.; Milak Anđela D.; Ubavić Milan B.; Krtinić Dane A.; Nedin-Ranković Gorana G.; Jovanović Hristina M.; Trajković Hristina S.; Milijašević Dragana S.; Popović Radmila N.; Todorović Nemanja B.; Lalić-Popović Mladena N.; Vukosav Nikola B.; Baljak Branko M.; Tošić Milan S.; Matijević Radmila N.

doi:10.5937/hpimj2302301M

Hospital Pharmacology (Jan 2023)

Drugs with the highest drug expenditure in the Republic of Serbia

Milijašević Boris Ž.,
Milak Anđela D.,
Ubavić Milan B.,
Krtinić Dane A.,
Nedin-Ranković Gorana G.,
Jovanović Hristina M.,
Trajković Hristina S.,
Milijašević Dragana S.,
Popović Radmila N.,
Todorović Nemanja B.,
Lalić-Popović Mladena N.,
Vukosav Nikola B.,
Baljak Branko M.,
Tošić Milan S.,
Matijević Radmila N.

Affiliations

Milijašević Boris Ž.: ORCiD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Milak Anđela D.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Ubavić Milan B.: Medlab, Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics, Novi Sad, Serbia
Krtinić Dane A.: ORCiD; University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology with Toxicology, Niš, Serbia
Nedin-Ranković Gorana G.: ORCiD; University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology with Toxicology, Niš, Serbia
Jovanović Hristina M.: University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology with Toxicology, Niš, Serbia
Trajković Hristina S.: University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology with Toxicology, Niš, Serbia
Milijašević Dragana S.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Popović Radmila N.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Todorović Nemanja B.: ORCiD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Novi Sad, Serbia
Lalić-Popović Mladena N.: ORCiD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Novi Sad, Serbia
Vukosav Nikola B.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Baljak Branko M.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Tošić Milan S.: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Matijević Radmila N.: ORCiD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/hpimj2302301M
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 2
pp. 1301 – 1313

Abstract

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Introduction: The policy concerning drugs represents a concentrated effort to achieve better health outcomes for all, with a particular focus on people's access to and rational use of medications. On the basis of pharmacoeconomic analyses, it is possible to modify established prescribing habits, it is possible to influence the creation of guidelines, development strategy and long-term health care planning. Aim: The aim of the work was to determine drugs with the highest expenditure in the Republic of Serbia, and to compare the results obtained in three consecutive years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Also, to analyze which are the most expensive medications listed in the National Register of Medications and what is the trend of changing them. Material and methods: The drug expenditure was monitored using the ATC/DDD methodology. It implies the classification of medications according to the internationally accepted ATC classification of drugs, while DDD, i.e. defined daily dose, is used as a statistical unit for consumption monitoring. The number of DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day provides an insight into how many inhabitants (out of 1,000 of them) used the observed medication and were exposed to its effects during one day. Results: The trend of expenditure of these medications was growing exponentially from 2016 to 2018. The most expensive medications per box are from group J - anti-infective drugs for systemic use and L - antineoplastics and immunomodulators, but their expenditure in the Republic of Serbia is very low. The drugs with the highest price per 1 DDD are: enzymes imiglucerase, laronidase and the biological medication basiliximab in all three years, but considering the indications and rare prescribing, the total cost for these drugs is not high. The largest funds in the Republic of Serbia for the mentioned period were spent on drugs such as: acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol in combinations, trastuzumab, pantoprazole, amlodipine and rosuvastatin. Comparing the spending on L group of drugs in 2017 compared to 2016, there was a significant increase. Conclusion: The medications with the highest expenditure in the Republic of Serbia are used very little compared to countries with good pharmacotherapy practice. The most expensive drugs are those that are used for special and rare indications, and large amounts of money are not allocated for them as for some cheaper, but more frequently prescribed drugs.

Published in Hospital Pharmacology

ISSN: 2334-9492 (Online)
Publisher: Srpsko lekarsko drustvo
Country of publisher: Serbia
LCC subjects: Medicine: Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Website: http://scindeks.ceon.rs/journalDetails.aspx?issn=2334-9492&lang=en

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