Hospital Procurement Trend for Statins and Agents Acting on the Renin Angiotensin System: A Case Study of 14 Public Hospitals

Abstract

Introduction: In Thailand, drug expenditure has continuously increased from 32% of health expenditure in the year 1999 to 46% in the year 2008.This descriptive study aims to monitor drug procurement trendinpublic hospitals. Drug price, purchasing quantity, and purchasing value of statins and agents acting on the renin angiotensin system were monitored. Methods: The study was conducted by using retrospective purchasing data during the fiscal year 2010 and 2013 which were obtained from 14 regional hospitals and provincial hospitals. Results: Findings showed thatthe single source rosuvastatin 10 mg had highest purchasing value among statins whilethe locally made losartan 50 mg had highest purchasing value among agents acting on renin angiotensin system. Based on market status, trend of drug prices for most groups including single source, original, locally made generic, and imported generic drugs showed no change or slightly decreased. Greater decrease in price was observed in original drugs. Purchasing volume of locally made and imported

generic drugs had increased. On the other hands, purchasing volume of original and single source drugs had decreased and led to the continuously decreased intheir purchasing values. For statins and angiotensin receptor blockers, the proportions of purchasing values of original, and single source drugs still high (55% and 64%, respectively). Conclusion: Measures to control purchasing of original drugs and non essential drugs should be implemented for the study drug groups and monitoring of procurement trend in the country representative level should be warranted.