title: [The requirement to use the cheapest synonymous preparation--does it work as intended?].
abstract: A retrospective analysis of all prescriptions for hypersensitive drugs was undertaken at a pharmacy serving 20 general practitioners and 17 temporarily employed doctors. The analysis was carried out in 1992 over two three-month periods separated by an interval of five months. The Governmental regulations aimed at promoting use of the "cheapest synonymous drug" apparently had little impact on the doctors' prescriptions. During the 11 months concerned, the prescribed antihypersensitive drugs contained an increasing share of expensive alternatives with no documented ability to reduce cardiovascular morbidity or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Senter for helseadministrasjon Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horgen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Smiseth
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Eskerud
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Melsom
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic
vernacular_title: Ordningen med billigste synonympreparat--virker den etter hensikten?