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  1. Ahmad NS, Makmor-Bakry M, Hatah E
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2020 10;16(10):1359-1369.
    PMID: 31987771 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.01.002
    BACKGROUND: Drug price transparency is defined as readily available information on the price of pharmaceutical drugs to either authorities or consumers. Price transparency, together with other information, helps define the value of drugs and enables informed decision making. It has also been used as a reference in drug price setting mechanisms in some countries' pricing policies.

    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the evidence available: 1) on government initiatives to mandate transparency in drug pricing worldwide, 2) on the reported effects of drug pricing transparency initiatives on drug price, and 3) on the limitations and barriers of the implementation of drug pricing transparency.

    METHODS: Databases such as Medline-Ovid, Cochrane Central Register, PubMed, and Science Direct were used to search for relevant literature from inception to February 2018. A manual search of grey literature such as policy papers, governmental publications, and websites was also performed to obtain the information that was not available in the articles. Using narrative synthesis, the results were critically assessed and summarized according to its context of drug pricing approaches.

    RESULTS: Of the 4382 relevant articles located, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria for drug price transparency initiatives. Only 3 studies reported the outcomes on the regulation of drug prices. Two studies in South Africa showed that price transparency initiatives did not necessarily reduce drug prices. Another study in the Philippines indicated a reduction in medicines' price based on the effects of government-mediated access prices. The limitations and barriers in price transparency initiatives include fragmentation of the healthcare system and nondisclosure of discounts and rebates by pharmaceutical companies.

    CONCLUSION: Drug pricing transparency initiatives have been implemented in many countries and commonly coexist with a country's pricing policies. Nevertheless, due to sparse evidence, the effect of drug price transparency initiatives on price control is still inconclusive.

    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical*
  2. Mohd Shahrol, A.W., Mohd Hasni, J., Zaleha, M.I.
    Medicine & Health, 2020;15(2):187-214.
    MyJurnal
    Pengetahuan mengenai pendedahan plumbum (Pb) di kalangan kanak-kanak masih kurang baik di kalangan ibu bapa di Malaysia. Tujuan utama kajian ini adalah untuk menterjemahkan versi Bahasa Inggeris Chicago Lead Knowledge Test (CLKT) yang asal ke dalam Bahasa Melayu (bahasa tempatan) dan disesuaikan dengan latar belakang budaya negara ini. Langkah-langkah terjemahan adalah sistematik dan berdasarkan ‘International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research’ (ISPOR) iaitu persediaan, terjemahan ke depan, perangkuman, terjemahan mundur, penilaian terjemahan mundur, penyelarasan, pembahasan kognitif, penilaian pembahasan kognitif dan semakan akhir, pembacaan pruf, dan laporan akhir. Jumlah item adalah kekal 24, di mana satu item dihapus, satu item disemak semula, dan satu item ditambah ke dalam borang soalan kaji selidik. Keempat-empat tema iaitu pengetahuan umum, pendedahan, pencegahan dan pemakanan dalam soal selidik ini dikekalkan. Skala respon, skema jawapan, dan sistem pemarkahan adalah tetap sama. Sebilangan besar item mempunyai terjemahan langsung ke bahasa Melayu kecuali item 5, 7, 12, 20, dan 22. Purata (+SD) dan julat interkuartil (IQR) untuk skor keseluruhan pengetahuan adalah 9.50 + 2.45 markah dan 5 markah masing-masing. Skor terendah adalah 4 markah dan skor tertinggi ialah 13 markah. Ini merupakan satu-satunya kajian yang menggunakan pendekatan sistematik dan standard dalam terjemahan dan penyesuaian budaya di Malaysia. Terjemahan CLKT dan penyesuaian budaya di Malaysia akan menyumbang kepada penyelidikan semasa yang lain terutamanya mengenai pendedahan Pb di kalangan kanak-kanak.

    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  3. Carapinha JL
    J Med Econ, 2016 Aug 26.
    PMID: 27564849
    To compare the pharmacoeconomic guidelines in South Africa (SA) with other middle- and high-income countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  4. Rosnah I, Noor Hassim I, Shafizah AS
    Med J Malaysia, 2013 Oct;68(5):424-34.
    PMID: 24632873 MyJurnal
    INTRODUCTION: The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire was first constructed to measure eating behavior in an English population in the United States. It has been validated and translated for various populations in different languages. The aim of this article is to describe a systematic process for translating the questionnaire from English to Malay language.

    METHODOLOGY: The report of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research (ISPOR) Task Force was used as the basis for the systematic translation process. The process began with preparation; followed by forward translation (2 independent translators), reconciliation, back translation (2 independent translators), back translation review, harmonization, cognitive debriefing, review of cognitive debriefing results and finalization, proofreading; and ended with the final report. Four independent Malay translators who fluent in English and reside in Malaysia were involved in the process. A team of health care researchers had assisted the review of the new translated questionnaires.

    RESULTS: Majority of the TFEQ-R21 items were experiencing, conceptually and semantically equivalence between original English and translated English. However, certain phrase such as "feels like bottomless pit" was difficult to translate by forward translators. Cognitive debriefing was a very helpful process to ensure the TFEQ-R21 Malay version was appropriate in term of wording and culturally accepted. A total of four redundant comments in regards to response scale wording, word confusion and wording arrangement.

    CONCLUSION: The systematic translation process is a way to reduce the linguistic discrepancies between the English and Malay language in order to promote equivalence and culturally adapted TFEQ-R21 questionnaire.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  5. Al-Ziftawi NH, Shafie AA, Mohamed Ibrahim MI
    Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res, 2021 Aug;21(4):655-666.
    PMID: 32657174 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2020.1794826
    BACKGROUND: Pharmacoeconomic evaluation is important for breast-cancer medications due to their high costs. To our knowledge, no systematic literature reviews of pharmacoeconomic studies for breast-cancer medication use are present in developing-countries.

    OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the existing cost-effectiveness evaluations of breast-cancer medication in developing-countries.

    METHODOLOGY: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and EconLit. Two researchers determined the final articles, extracted data, and evaluated their quality using the Quality of Health-Economic Studies (QHES) tool. The interclass-correlation-coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess interrater-reliability. Data were summarized descriptively.

    RESULTS: Fourteen pharmacoeconomic studies published from 2009 to 2019 were included. Thirteen used patient-life-years as their effectiveness unit, of which 10 used quality-adjusted life-years. Most of the evaluations focused on trastuzumab as a single agent or on regimens containing trastuzumab (n = 10). The conclusion of cost-effectiveness analysis varied among the studies. All the studies were of high quality (QHES score >75). Interrater reliability between the two reviewers was high (ICC = 0.76).

    CONCLUSION: In many studies included in the review, the use of breast-cancer drugs in developing countries was not cost-effective. Yet, more pharmacoeconomic evaluations for the use of recently approved agents in different disease stages are needed in developing countries.

    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical*
  6. Patel I, Rarus R, Tan X, Lee EK, Guy J, Ahmad A, et al.
    Indian J Pharmacol, 2015;47(6):585-93.
    PMID: 26729947 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.169592
    Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is an important branch of pharmacoeconomics that systematically studies and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of medical interventions. CER plays instrumental roles in guiding government public health policy programs and insurance. Countries throughout the world use different methods of CER to help make medical decisions based on providing optimal therapy at a reduced cost. Expenses to the healthcare system continue to rise, and CER is one-way in which expenses could be curbed in the future by applying cost-effectiveness evidence to clinical decisions. China, India, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are of essential focus because these country's economies and health care expenses continue to expand. The structures and use of CER are diverse throughout these countries, and each is of prime importance. By conducting this thorough comparison of CER in different nations, strategies and organizational setups from different countries can be applied to help guide public health and medical decision-making in order to continue to expand the establishment and role of CER programs. The patient-centered medical home has been created to help reduce costs in the primary care sector and to help improve the effectiveness of therapy. Barriers to CER are also important as many stakeholders need to be able to work together to provide the best CER evidence. The advancement of CER in multiple countries throughout the world provides a possible way of reducing costs to the healthcare system in an age of expanding expenses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical/organization & administration; Economics, Pharmaceutical/trends
  7. Dilokthornsakul P, McQueen RB, Chaiyakunapruk N, Spackman E, Watanabe JH, Campbell JD
    Value Health Reg Issues, 2016 May;9:99-104.
    PMID: 27881269 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2015.12.003
    Health technology assessment is a form of health policy research that provides policymakers with information relevant to decisions about policy alternatives. Findings from cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) are one of the important aspects of health technology assessment. Nevertheless, the more advanced method of value of information (VOI), which is recommended by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research and Society for Medical Decision Making Modeling Good Research Practices Task Force, has rarely been applied in CEA studies in Asia. The lack of VOI in Asian CEA studies may be due to limited understanding of VOI methods and what VOI can and cannot help policy decision makers accomplish. This concept article offers audiences a practical primer in understanding the calculation, presentation, and policy implications of VOI. In addition, it provides a rapid survey of health technology assessment guidelines and literature related to VOI in Asia and discusses the future directions of VOI use in Asia and its potential barriers. This article will enable health economists, outcomes researchers, and policymakers in Asia to better understand the importance of VOI analysis and its implications, leading to the appropriate use of VOI in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  8. Anderson S
    Pharm Hist (Lond), 2012 Sep;42(3):54-63.
    PMID: 24620479
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical/history*
  9. Neoh CF, Kong DC
    Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res, 2014 Jun;14(3):319-34.
    PMID: 24708054 DOI: 10.1586/14737167.2014.906306
    Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is costly to treat and, has high morbidity and mortality. The addition of new protease inhibitors (i.e., boceprevir, telaprevir), to the standard dual therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin, for the treatment of HCV infection has demonstrated superior efficacy with shorter treatment duration, but at higher drug acquisition costs and incidence of adverse events. Robust economic data are required to inform healthcare decision for the optimal use of these expensive antiviral agents. Accordingly, this review will explore the clinical and economic aspects of boceprevir-based treatment strategies. Important considerations, challenges and gaps for future pharmacoeconomic research in this setting are highlighted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  10. Usman A, Shaikh MF, Dujaili JA, Mustafa N, Gan SH
    Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2021 Mar 05;15(2):573-580.
    PMID: 33706189 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.03.001
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment guidelines recommend to initiate potassium-replacement when serum potassium (SK) drops within normal range, and to withhold insulin if SK is below normal. Despite strict recommendations, hypokalemia is frequently observed in DKA.

    METHODS: Scientific literature was thoroughly searched to find 1) DKA treatment guidelines, 2) studies reporting hypokalemia in DKA, 3) and literature elaborating mechanisms involved in hypokalemia.

    RESULTS: Acidosis affects SK and its regulators including insulin, catecholamines and aldosterone. Current conceptual framework is an argument to gauge the degree of hypokalemia before it strikes DKA patients utilizing SK level after adjusting it with pH. Suggested approach will reduce hypokalemia risk and its associated complications. The nomogram calculates pH-adjusted potassium and expected potassium loss. It also ranks hypokalemia associated risk, and proposes the potassium-replacement rate over given time period. The differences between current DKA treatment guidelines and proposed strategy are also discussed. Moreover, reasons and risk of hyperkalemia due to early initiation of potassium replacement and remedial actions are debated.

    CONCLUSION: In light of proposed strategy, utilizing the nomogram ensures reduced incidence of hypokalemia in DKA resulting in improved clinical and patient outcomes. Pharmacoeconomic benefits can also be expected when avoiding hypokalemia ensures early discharge.

    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  11. Qais Alefan, M. Izham M. Ibrahim, Tariq Abdul Razak, Azizi Ayub
    MyJurnal
    Hypertension is a prevalent chronic disease, which is strongly related to the development of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of hypertension in Malaysia in subjects aged 15 years and above was estimated to be 27.8%. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) compares treatment options with different effectiveness and safety profiles. The utilisation of antihypertensive drugs has raised some concerns about the balance between its costs and benefits. This study was conducted to describe the healthcare costs for hypertensive subjects and to examine the cost-effectiveness of different classes of antihypertensive drugs used in Malaysia. Retrospective and prospective data analysis of a cohort of uncomplicated hypertensive patients was conducted to determine ambulatory health care costs among hypertensive patients groups. The total direct and
    indirect costs of controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) were described. The health care
    costs ($) / clinical outcome (AC/E ratio) was calculated. Mean total direct costs per patient per month was higher in uncontrolled blood pressure groups compared to the controlled blood pressure groups. The cost-effectiveness relationship was more favourable for diuretics (1.9), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (2.0), prazosin (2.4) and beta blockers (2.5), more than the diuretics and beta blockers combination theraphy (3.0), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (3.4) and other combinations (6.1). Antihypertensive drugs used to treat hypertensive patients were different
    in their cost-effectiveness ratios. Such results will allow health care professionals and/or decision
    makers to make better decisions on how to select treatment options for hypertensive patients in
    Malaysia and how to distribute and allocate scarce health care resources. Pharmacoeconomic
    evaluations can help in making difficult choices rationally and allocate scarce resources efficiently.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  12. Jamshed SQ, Siddiqui MJ, Rana B, Bhagavathula AS
    Front Public Health, 2018;6:244.
    PMID: 30234088 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00244
    Objectives: To analyze the studies encompassing the involvement of pharmacists in diabetes self-care.
    Method: We reviewed studies conducted from 2005 to 2017 on the involvement of pharmacists in diabetes self-care. The keywords mainly used in this search are pharmacoeconomic analysis, diabetes self-care, pharmacist involvement,cost-effectiveness analysis, cost of utilization, cost of illness, cost of minimization and cost-benefit analysis. PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link and Medline searched for the relevant studies. These databases searched for full text articles ranging from 2007 to 2017. We tried to limit the search with the inclusion of studies having any sort of pharmacoeconomically relevant component.
    Key Findings: Cost of illness varied among the countries in managing diabetes mellitus, and the cost of managing diabetes complications were twice the cost of management of diabetes. Continuous involvement of the pharmacist in primary health care is a cost-effective strategy and pronounced to be essential for helping diabetes patient in controlling and managing their disease. Implementation of diabetes self-care by pharmacists such as lifestyle intervention rendered improved quality of life of patient without any increase in health care cost. Self-care management generates intensive blood glucose control and improved quality of life.
    Conclusions: Implementation of diabetic self-care intervention including intensive lifestyle intervention, education, self-monitoring of blood glucose and adherence toward medication-initiated reduction in the overall healthcare cost of diabetic patients compared to patients relying on only any one of the interventions. Impact of diabetes self-care intervention by pharmacist reported to significantly reduce the HbA1C levels of diabetic patients along with the reduction of yearly healthcare cost. This review showed that pharmacist involvement in diabetes self-care interventions prove to be cost-effective and can significantly affect the condition of the diabetic patients and reduces the risk of complications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  13. Dranitsaris G, Truter I, Lubbe MS
    Eur J Cancer, 2011 Jun;47(9):1299-304.
    PMID: 21493060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.03.015
    Worldwide, prices for cancer drugs have been under downward pressure where several governments have mandated price cuts of branded products. A better alternative to government mandated price cuts would be to estimate a final price based on drug performance, cost effectiveness and a country's ability to pay. We developed a global pricing index for new cancer drugs in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that encompasses all of these attributes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  14. Elamin EI, Ibrahim MI, Sulaiman SA, Muttalif AR
    Pharm World Sci, 2008 Jun;30(3):281-6.
    PMID: 18204974 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-007-9185-0
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the costs incurred by the public health services and patients as a result of tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Setting The study was conducted in a government hospital located in the northern region of Malaysia.

    METHOD: Retrospective data were collected from medical records and the patients were observed until the completion of their medication. A pharmacoeconomic evaluation was applied to calculate direct and indirect costs.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Direct and indirect costs of tuberculosis treatment in a government health institution.

    RESULTS: Two hundred and one tuberculosis patients were included in the study. Different regimens with various durations of treatments were used. The direct medical and non-medical costs as well as indirect costs were calculated and were found to be as follows: US$61.44 for anti-tuberculosis drugs and supplies, US$28.63 for X-ray examinations, US$28.53 for laboratory tests, US$20.03 for healthcare staff time, US$4.28 for hospitalisation, US$43.20 for overhead costs, US$608.11 for transportation and meals and US$118.78 for time away from work. The cost to the patients constitutes approximately 80% of the total cost of the treatment.

    CONCLUSION: The cost of treating the illness of tuberculosis per patient was US$916.4. The cost of anti-tuberculosis drugs constituted the highest proportion of the cost to the public health services (31.7%) while the cost to the patient constituted the major proportion of the total cost of the illness (79.4%).

    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
  15. Wan Puteh WP, Aljunid S
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2010;11(1):79-90.
    PMID: 20593935
    INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancers (CC) demonstrate the second highest incidence of female cancers in Malaysia. The costs of chronic management have a high impact on nation's health cost and patient's quality of life that can be avoided by better screening and HPV vaccination.

    METHODOLOGY: Respondents were interviewed from six public Gynecology-Oncology hospitals. Methods include experts' panel discussions to estimate treatment costs by severity and direct interviews with respondents using costing and SF-36 quality of life (QOL) questionnaires. Three options were compared i.e. screening via Pap smear; quadrivalent HPV Vaccination and combined strategy (screening plus vaccination). Scenario based sensitivity analysis using screening population coverage (40-80%) and costs of vaccine (RM 300-400/dose) were calculated.

    RESULTS: 502 cervical pre invasive and invasive cervical cancer (ICC) patients participated in the study. Mean age was 53.3 +/- 11.2 years, educated till secondary level (39.4%), Malays (44.2%) and married for 27.73 +/- 12.1 years. Life expectancy gained from vaccination is 13.04 years and average Quality Adjusted Life Years saved (QALYs) is 24.4 in vaccinated vs 6.29 in unvaccinated. Cost/QALYs for Pap smear at base case is RM 1,214.96/QALYs and RM 1,100.01 at increased screening coverage; for HPV Vaccination base case is at RM 35,346.79 and RM 46,530.08 when vaccination price is higher. In combined strategy, base case is RM 11,289.58; RM 7,712.74 at best case and RM 14,590.37 at worst case scenario. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) showed that screening at 70% coverage or higher is highly cost effective at RM 946.74 per QALYs saved and this is followed by combined strategy at RM 35,346.67 per QALYs saved.

    CONCLUSION: Vaccination increase life expectancy with better QOL of women when cancer can be avoided. Cost effective strategies will include increasing the Pap smear coverage to 70% or higher. Since feasibility and long term screening adherence is doubtful among Malaysian women, vaccination of young women is a more cost effective strategy against cervical cancers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economics, Pharmaceutical
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