A cost-effectiveness approach to drug subsidy and pricing in Australia.
The Australian government offers its citizens subsidies on a select list of pharmaceuticals. For a drug to qualify for inclusion on this list, its manufacturer must demonstrate that the drug is both clinically effective and cost-effective. In part, this measure, along with others, was introduced to improve clinical and economic outcomes. Although this evidence-based system has provided transparency and consistency in decision making about which drugs will be covered, it may not have contained the rate of increase in drug costs.
Birkett
D J
DJ
Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
Mitchell
A S
AS
McManus
P
P
D001315:Australia; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017277:Drug Approval; D016527:Drug Costs; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005380:Financing, Government; D005569:Formularies as Topic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011907:Rate Setting and Review