Price disparity of percutaneous coronary intervention devices in Japan and the United States in 2006.
BACKGROUND
The price disparity between Japan and foreign countries for medical devices is a controversial issue. Price differences existed between Japan and USA for various medical devices in early 2005, so in the present study, a more precise and detailed investigation of the latest market prices of medical devices between Japan and USA was conducted in 2006, focusing on coronary stents and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) catheters, for an evaluation of the efficacy of current Japanese policies.


RESULTS
Japanese market prices were obtained from 31 university hospitals, and US market prices were obtained from 1 hospital chain and 2 group-purchasing organizations. The price ratio (Japanese market price/US market price) was determined to be 1.2-1.4 for drug-eluting stents (DES), 1.6-2.4 for non-DES, and 4.1-5.1 for PTCA catheters.


CONCLUSIONS
Results showed that the price disparity was relatively small for DES, but still significant for non-DES and PTCA catheters. Radical measures must be taken to improve the fundamental causes of price disparity and might include reviewing the implementation of the Japanese Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, abolishing the reimbursement price system for medical devices, and establishing centers of clinical excellence.
Yasunaga
Hideo
H
Department of Planning, Information and Management, University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. yasunagah-jyo@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Ide
Hiroo
H
Imamura
Tomoaki
T
Ohe
Kazuhiko
K
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015607:Stents / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States