Praktické lekárnictvo 1/2018

Trends in consumption of drugs for respiratory system in the Slovak Republic

The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of drugs from the ATC group R – Respiratory system in defined daily doses and financial expenditures for health insurance funds during the ten years period (from 2007 to 2016) in the Slovak Republic. Sales data of wholesalers, which are legally obliged to provide information to the State Institute for Drug Control were used for the analysis. Data about maximum reimbursement levels of medicinal products and consumption based on defined daily doses in accordance with the classification of the World Health Organization were incorporated. The collected data showed an increase in consumption of drugs from the ATC group R – Respiratory system from 2007 to 2010 in defined daily doses. However, moderate decrease in consumption till 2012 at the level 328 105 266 DDD can be seen. The consumption of drugs till 2016 increased at the level of 412 690 352 DDD. However, data showed significant decrease in consumption of drugs from 2007 to 2012 in the financial term. The consumption of drugs from the ATC group R – Respiratory system based on the financial term was in 2012 at the level of 57 263 829 €. It can be seen, that the consumption of drugs increased and reached the level of 73 528 837 € in 2015. There was a small decreased in consumption of drugs at the level of 72 819 255 € in 2016. The analysis can be supportive for utilization studies and application of systematic arrangements for regulations of drug policy in the Slovak Republic.

Keywords: drug policy, consumption of drugs for respiratory system, defined daily doses