Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9399

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Griffin JP, Teeling-smith G.
View of the pharmaceutical industry on cost-effective prescribing
International Pharmacy Journal 1992 Mar-Apr; 6:58-64

Abstract:

Examples are presented to demonstrate that money spent on medicines gives good value and that the cheapest medicine is not always the most cost-effective. Expenditure on pharmaceuticals in prevention of disease or the complications of disease presents real savings to the rest of the National Health Service in England and the British national economy. A variety of examples are given to illustrate this point. First, the use of prophylactic medicines to prevent disease is cost-effective. Second, the new high tech medicines may be more effective than older and cheaper medicines. Examples of cost-effective therapy include the prophylactic use of antibiotics in surgery, vaccination for hepatitis B, cimetidine for duodenal ulcers, and antineoplastic therapy with more expensive versus less expensive drugs. The quality of life is also considered in the discussion.