Drug utilization study and evaluation of anti-hypertensive prescriptions from medical reimbursement applications at university health care facility, BHU, Varanasi

Abstract

Objective: Pharmacoeconomics evaluates the relationship between clinical, economic, and humanistic outcome for maximizing the value for each monetary unit spent on product and services. So the objective of the study was to provide the option of pharmacoeconomic medications to the hypertensive patients thus saving the cost to the university as well as to its staff of lower economic strata. Methods: The prescriptions are generated at University Health Center along at the tertiary care center i.e. University hospital. Most often patients are prescribed medications of specific brands by the University hospital consultants, which are not available in the health center. The expenditure for self procured medication is subject to reimbursement by the University. The personal characteristics of patients like age, sex, department of treatment, diagnosis, duration of therapy, change in therapy etc. were noted. The exact formulation and manufacturer’s details were recorded. Retail cost of a particular drug available from different manufacturers in the same dose form, strength and quantity were also recorded wherever found appropriate. Results: Majority of patients were old and evenly bearing co-morbidity with hypertension. Judicious choice of common medicines may maximize the economical use of Institutional financial resources for the healthcare and economical expenditure for the patients as well without compromising the treatment of the disease thus fulfilling the objective. Conclusion: The therapy of hypertension with economical antihypertensive drugs or generic drugs may provide an economical option for the common people and reduced expenditure for the University. © 2015, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. All Rights Reserved.