Pharmacoeconomics

Pharmacoeconomics refers to the scientific discipline that compares the value of one pharmaceutical drug or drug therapy to another. It is a sub-discipline of Health economics. A pharmacoeconomic study evaluates the cost (expressed in monetary terms) and effects (expressed in terms of monetary value, efficacy or enhanced quality of life) of a pharmaceutical product. We can distinguish several types of pharmacoeconomic evaluation:cost-minimization analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analysis. Pharmacoeconomic studies serve to guide optimal healthcare resource allocation, in a standardized and scientifically grounded manner.

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One important consideration in a pharmacoeconomic evaluation is to decide the perspective from which the analysis should be conducted (such as institutional or societal).

A complete compilation of cost-utility analyses in the peer reviewed medical literature is available at the The CEA Registry Website.

See also

• Cost-minimization analysis
• Cost-effectiveness analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• QALY
• Cost-utility analysis
• Perspective (pharmacoeconomic)

• HealthEconomics.Com

• Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics Glossary of Terms - maintained by the University of Groningen, the Netherlands

• Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research - Peer-reviewed journal published by Future Science Group