title: [Pharmacoeconomic analyses--chance or 4th hurdle for innovative drugs].
abstract: The reimbursement process for pharmaceuticals is increasingly confronted with what is often called "the fourth hurdle". This criterion is required even when therapeutic efficacy, safety and quality have been controlled for. Such a fourth hurdle has also been introduced in Austria in 2002 for the reimbursement of innovative drugs. Despite resistance, it can also be seen as a chance for innovative medicines. By implementing cost/effectiveness analyses it is possible to give a quantitative account of cost/effectiveness advantages. It is however questionable to advocate this procedure in connection with imposing a limiting peak-price.
authors.affiliation: Causa Wirtschaftstreuhand GmbH, Wien, Osterreich. office@causa.at
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krammer
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000191:economics*; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005062:European Union; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics*; D012943:Social Security; D035703:Therapies, Investigational / Q000191:economics*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational