[The distribution effects of the Danish 800 crown rule. Preliminary results of the DIKE study. Choice of drugs and drugs used by the population].
During the period 1 July 1989 to 31 December 1990, patients had to pay the full price for subsidized medicine up to DDK 800 (66 pounds) per calendar year. The consequences for the population were examined by a representative national survey (January 1990) and for the patients by interviews at pharmacies (December 1989 and April 1990). Fourteen percent of the population had exceeded the limit of DDK 400 (33 pounds) for the second half of 1989. By the end of December 1989, 53% of patients at pharmacies had exceeded the limit. According to the national health survey (1986) 51% of the population took medicine during a period of two weeks; 58% female, 42% male. In 1990, 41% of the population had no medicine expenses. Among the other fraction 15% had expenses of DDK 200 (16 pounds) or more, monthly. Among patients at pharmacies 22-25% had expenses to that amount. More than 90% of the patients at pharmacies bought the prescribed medicine or the medicine normally used. Less than 10% asked the physician to prescribe a cheaper medicine. The new regulation on medicine reimbursement has not yet induced greater price-consciousness in the users. Whether this is possible by economic means, is an open question.
Hansen
H
H
Dansk Institut for Klinisk Epidemiologi, København.
Jensen
C H
CH
Rasmussen
N K
NK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics*; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged