PCV100 - Agents Acting On Renin-Angiotensin System Usage In Croatia During The Fourteen-Year Period: Impact Of Generics

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major health problem in contemporary world, particularly in developing countries. The impact of the costs of Agents acting on RAS to the healthcare budgets is relatively high. It is important to establish the use of cheaper generic and to reduce the healthcare costs. The aim of our study was to identify and analyze changes in the usage of these drugs in Croatia from 2000-2013 and to identify the rate of the generic drugs usage as well as the average price for 1 DDD. Data on the consumption have been obtained from the database IMS (International Medical Statistics) for Croatia. According to the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drugs Statistics Methodology annual volumes of drugs are presented in defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000), while financial expenditure data are presented in Euros (€). The total usage of Agents acting on RAS (C09 subgroup) in constantly increasing from 58,56 DDD/1000 inh/day in 2000. to 199,88 DDD/1000 inh/day in 2013. In 14-year period, consumption in DDD/1000 inh/day increased 241%, while the financial expenditure in same period increased 74% (from 28,8 mil € in 2000 to 50,3 mil € in 2013), but achieved its maximum in 2008 (57,7 mil €). The consumption share of generic Agents acting on RAS decreased from 90% in 2000 to 56% in 2006, then constantly increasing to 68% in 2013. Drugs prescription patterns among Agents acting on RAS have been changing during the 14-year period in Croatia. Impact of generics decreased until 2006. Because of introduction of new original drugs, but the national healthare policy promoting generics resulted in their increase of share up to 2013. Although the generic drugs usage in C09 subgroup is relatively high, it should be further supported and promoted.