Published Jan 2010
Citation
Shi L, Hodges M, Drummond M, et al. Good research practices for measuring drug costs in cost-effectiveness analyses: an international perspective: the ISPOR Drug Cost Task Force Report-part VI. Value Health. 2010;13(1):28-33.
Abstract
Objective: The pharmacoeconomic guidelines available in the literature or
promulgated in many countries are either vague or silent about how drug
costs should be established or measured so an international comparison of
cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) results can be made. The objective of this
report is to provide guidance and recommendations on how drug costs
should be measured for CEAs done from an internationally comparative
perspective.
Methods: Members of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics
and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Task Force on Good Research Practices—
Use of Drug Costs for Cost Effectiveness Analysis (Drug Cost Task Force
[DCTF]) subgroup from several countries were experienced developers or
users of CEA models, and worked in academia, industry, and as advisors to
governments. They solicited comments on drafts from a core group of 174
external reviewers and more broadly, from the members of the ISPOR at the
ISPOR 12th Annual International meeting and via the ISPOR Web site.
Results: Drug units should be standardized in terms of volume of active
ingredient, regardless of packaging and dosing strength variations across
countries. Drug costs should be measured in local currency per unit of
active ingredient and should be converted to other currencies using sensitivity
analyses of purchasing power parities (PPP) and exchange rates,
whichever is more appropriate. When using drug prices from different
years, the consumer price index for the local currency should be applied
before the PPP and/or exchange rate conversion.
Conclusion: CEA researchers conducting international pharmacoeconomic
analysis should tailor the appropriate measure of drug costs to
the international perspective, to maintain clarity and transparency
on drug cost measurement in the context of international drug
comparison and report the sensitivity of CEA results to reasonable cost
conversions.
Keywords: drug cost, health technology assessment, pharmacoeconomics.
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Reports
- Good Research Practices for Measuring Drug Costs in Cost Effectiveness Analyses: Issues and Recommendations - ISPOR drug cost task force report - Part I
- Good Research Practices for Measuring Drug Costs in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses: A Societal Perspective - ISPOR drug cost task force report - Part II
- Good Research Practices for Measuring Drug Costs in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses: A Managed Care Perspective - ISPOR drug cost task force report - Part III
- Good Research Practices for Measuring Drug Costs in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses: Medicare, Medicaid and US Government Payers Perspectives ISPOR drug cost task force report - Part IV
- Good Research Practices for Measuring Drug Costs in Cost Effectiveness Analyses: An Industry Perspective - ISPOR drug cost task force report - Part V
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