PHP5: POLISH GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING PHARMACOECONOMIC EVALUATIONS IN COMPARISON TO INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ECONOMIC GUIDELINES

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Poland is the next European country, which is in the process of drafting country-specific guidelines for economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals. The aim of the study was to compare Polish pharmacoeconomic guidelines with international health economic guidelines, highlighting areas of agreement and dissent. METHODS: Existing documents from 18 countries were reviewed, analyzed and a comparison was undertaken. The following topics were considered: objective, use of pharmacoeconomic analyses, responsibility in their conduct and target audience, methodology and ethical code of practice while conducting and publishing results of pharmacoeconomic analysis. The explanation of differences was taken. RESULTS: For a number of issues recommendations are consistent between Poland and other countries. For the purpose of the Polish pharmacoeconomic research guidelines, the Canadian, Australian, Dutch and Belgian guidelines have, in some parts, been specially adopted to the Polish situation. In some parts it was possible to combine certain aspects; in the other, due to the unique local circumstances, there was a need to develop the methodological guidelines on a pure national level. For example there is a lack of consensus concerning costing and utility measurement. CONCLUSIONS: The guidelines for conducting pharmacoeconomic evaluations are linked to existing health care system and approaches to the pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals. This is the purpose of differences between international health economic guidelines. To reach an optimal degree of the use of pharmacoeconomic studies in decision-making process it is essential to take into account local situation and create country-specific guidelines.