The practical application of Pharmacoeconomics in the use of drugs in Cuba

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to expose how pharmacoeconomic studies contribute to render a rational and efficient use to drugs. As a consequence of the present study focusing on pharmacoeconomics by the Cuban-Republic sanitary authorities, the pharmaceutical industry is becoming interested in such analytical techniques and has started to use them for developing its strategies for research, development, production and marketing of its products. The practical application of these analysis techniques to the sanitary field represents one of most important initial efforts made in Cuba, which is guided to attain that the pharmacoeconomic evaluation starts to be involved in the process of rational use of drugs. Through practical examples of pharmacoeconomic studies jointly performed between the pharmaceutical sector and that one of medical care in our country, different investigations regarding to antiulcer pharmacological treatments and perioperatory antimicrobial prophylaxis are exponed. Their application were presented in taking sanitary decisions based on demonstrated clinical efficiency and costs of pharmaceutical therapy used.