Prescription Patterns of Pharmaceuticals

Ana Gonçalves ()
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Ana Gonçalves: Technische Universität Berlin

No 54, GEE Papers from Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia

Abstract: In May 2011, Portugal signed the Memorandum of Understanding in which it guarantees a reduction in the public spending on pharmaceuticals. The aim of this research work is to analyse the possibility of hospital cost reductions in HIV, oncology and rheumatism related pharmaceutical drugs, by better practice of medical physicians. The patterns of drug prescriptions were modelled using a relative distribution, stochastic dominance analysis and an ordered probit model. It was found that there is great divergence in expenditure levels of pharmaceutical products across hospitals and medical specialties. Outlier physicians tend to maintain their prescribing behaviour, even after the introduction of feedback. Therefore, there is room to reduce hospital costs of pharmaceutical products, by better practice.

Keywords: Prescription Patterns; Pharmaceutical Products; Hospitals; Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D02 H3 H4 H51 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2014-01, Revised 2014-01
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https://www.gee.gov.pt/RePEc/WorkingPapers/GEE_PAPERS_54.pdf First version, 2014 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mde:wpaper:0054

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