Study of Calculation of Health Care Provider Price Index of Pharmaceuticals for Nakhonphanom Hospital

Abstract

Objectives : To calculate price indexes of pharmaceuticals from healthcare providers’ perspective for Nakhonphanom Hospital to be used in planning, budgeting and policy setting.

Methods : Pharmaceutical items from hospital formulary were reviewed and classified according to the National List of Essential Medicines 2022. The ratio of the pharmaceutical cost of each item to the total cost of all pharmaceutical items in the fiscal year 2019 (base year) were used to obtain the basket of pharmaceuticals. Price indexes of pharmaceuticals during the fiscal year 2019-2024 were computed by Laspeyeres Formula.

Results : The number of pharmaceutical items is hospital formulary are 718 items. Classified by the National Primary Drug List 2022, 125 items have a gross weight of 0.2% or more. Regarding the basket in fiscal year 2019 (base year), 17 drug groups were observed, including 50 tablet dosage form, 55 injections dosage form, and others. The overall price index of pharmaceuticals decreased from 1.00 in fiscal year 2019 to 0.95 in fiscal year 2021 to 0.88 in fiscal year 2024.

Conclusion : Overall, trend of the price indexes of pharmaceuticals decreased. Using drug procurement costs from the pharmaceutical inventory management program, comprising all pharmaceutical items and purchasing costs contribute to correct weight for pharmaceutical items in the basket.