An Exploratory Research of 18 Years on the Economic Burden of Diabetes for the Romanian National Health Insurance System

Claudiu Morgovan, Smaranda Adina Cosma, Madalina Valeanu, Anca Maria Juncan, Luca Liviu Rus, Felicia Gabriela Gligor, Anca Butuca, Delia Mirela Tit, Simona Bungau and Steliana Ghibu
Additional contact information
Claudiu Morgovan: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Smaranda Adina Cosma: Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, “Babeș-Bolyai” University, 7 Horea St., 400174 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Madalina Valeanu: Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University Medicine and Pharmacy, 4 Louis Pasteur St., 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Anca Maria Juncan: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Luca Liviu Rus: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Felicia Gabriela Gligor: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Anca Butuca: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Delia Mirela Tit: Department of Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 29 Nicolae Jiga St., 410028 Oradea, Romania
Simona Bungau: Department of Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 29 Nicolae Jiga St., 410028 Oradea, Romania
Steliana Ghibu: Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University Medicine and Pharmacy, 4 Louis Pasteur St., 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) rises constantly each year worldwide. Because of that, the funds allocated for the DM treatment have increased over time. Regarding the number of DM cases, Romania is among the top ten countries in Europe. Based on the National Diabetes Programme (NDP), antidiabetic drugs and other expenditures (Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) test, HbA1c, insulin pumps/insulin pumps supplies) are free of charge. This programme has undergone many changes in drugs supply, in the last two decades: re-organizing the NDP, authorization of new molecules with high prices (e.g., SGLT-2 inhibitors, etc.) or new devices (e.g., insulin pumps, etc.) The main purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the impact of the DM costs on the Romanian health budget and to highlight the evolution of these costs. A retrospective longitudinal research on the official data regarding the DM costs from 2000 to 2017 was performed. The DM funds (DMF) were adjusted with the inflation rate. In this period, the average share of DMF in the total funds allocated for health programmes was 21.3 ± 3.4%, and DMF average growth rate was 25.4% (r = 0.488, p = 0.047). On the other hand, the DMF increased more than 14 times, in spite of the patients’ number having increased only about 2.5 times. Referring to the structure of DMF, the mean value of the antidiabetic drugs cost was of 96,045 ± 67,889 thousand EUR while for other expenditures it was of 11,530 ± 7922 thousand EUR (r = 0.945, p < 0.001). Between 2008 and 2017, the total DMF was 181,252 ± 74,278 thousand EUR/year. Moreover, the average patients’ number was 667,384 ± 94,938 (r = 0.73, p = 0.016), and the cost of treatment was 215 ± 36 EUR/patient/year. Even if the cost is rising, the correct and optimal treatment is a main condition for the diabetic patient’s health and for the prevention of its complications, which have multiple socio-economic repercussions.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus cost; physical indicators; efficiency indicators; Romanian National Health Insurance System; National Diabetes Programme; antidiabetic drugs; pharmacoeconomics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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