Abstract
Objective: With their new and efficacious active ingredients, patented drugs have important roles in offering high-quality healthcare. However, huge cost-related barriers in accessing patented drugs along with the availability of low-cost bioequivalent generics have great impact on drugs policy in Vietnam. To understand situation of patented drugs utilization at hospitals for a certain period, this pilot study was conducted at Nguyen-Dinh-Chieu Hospital in Ben-Tre Province.
 Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on the retrospective data of all patented drugs used at Nguyen-Dinh-Chieu Hospital in Ben-Tre Province from 2011-2017. Characteristics of drugs utilization were described by frequency and percentage of drugs quantities and costs. Criteria for the description were as follows: active ingredient, route of administration, therapeutic class and manufacturing country. Data were extracted from the hospital information system and were processed by R software.
 Results: From 2011 to 2017, there were 212 patented drugs used which related to 145 active ingredients and 20 therapeutic classes. 88% were single active ingredient drugs and 49% were oral drugs. Antimicrobial and cardiovascular drugs represented the largest number of drugs and the highest cost. 79% of patented drugs were manufactured by companies in Europe and the majority came from France and Germany.
 Conclusion: This study provided initial information about the utilization of patented drugs during a long period of time at a Vietnamese hospital. The understanding gained will aid medical managers in assessment and adjustment of the drugs list, thus, optimizing the hospital budget and the equity in access to drugs within communities.
Highlights
Drug utilization research is crucial to ensure an accurate supply of appropriate drugs at hospitals [1,2]
In Vietnam, due to the huge cost disadvantage of patented drugs, their lower-cost bioequivalent generics are recommended as replacements as stated in the Health Ministry's drugs policy [3,4]
During the 7-year period, Nguyen-Dinh-Chieu Hospital utilized a total of 212 patented drugs, relating to 145 different active ingredients
Summary
Drug utilization research is crucial to ensure an accurate supply of appropriate drugs at hospitals [1,2]. In Vietnam, due to the huge cost disadvantage of patented drugs, their lower-cost bioequivalent generics are recommended as replacements as stated in the Health Ministry's drugs policy [3,4]. The proportion of the budget to purchase patented drugs, which is regulated by the Health Ministry, depends on the hospital levels [5]. As of June 2018, lists of off-patent and off-exclusivity drugs and their approved generics have not been announced by the Vietnam Ministry of Health. These off-patent and off-exclusivity drugs still won the high bid prices which had a great impact on the drugs budget of hospitals and the affordability for drugs of communities. The lists of patented drugs in hospitals vary regarding both types and quantity every year
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