title: Contribution of clinical trials to gross domestic product in Hungary.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the contribution of clinical trials to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous survey of pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations (CROs) was conducted to estimate their clinical trial-related employment and revenues. Clinical trial documents at the National Institute of Pharmacy (NIP) were analyzed to estimate trial-related revenues at health care institutions and the value of investigational medical products (IMPs) based on avoided drug costs. Financial benefits were calculated as 2010 US $ purchasing power parity (PPP) values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical trials increased the revenue of Hungarian health care providers by 1 US $65.6 million. The value of IMPs was US $67.0 million. Clinical trial operation and management activities generated 900 jobs and US $166.9 million in revenue among CROs and pharmaceutical companies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contribution of clinical trials to the Hungarian GDP in 2010 amounted to 0.2%. Participation in international clinical trials may result in health, financial, and intangible benefits that contribute to the sustainability of health care systems, especially in countries with severe resource constraints. Although a conservative approach was employed to estimate the economic benefits of clinical trials, further research is necessary to improve the generalizability of our findings.
authors.affiliation: Zoltán Kaló, Department of Health Policy and Health Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/a, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary, kalo@tatk.elte.hu.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaló
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antal
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pénzes
authors.forename: Csilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozsgay
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szepezdi
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagyjánosi
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D059066:Gross Domestic Product; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary