Implications of Economic Crisis on Health Care Decision-making in Hungary: An Opportunity to Change?

• Autorzy: Zoltán Kaló , Imre Boncz , András Inotai
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Background: Evidence base and transparency of decision making are most critical issues to improve health care in middle income countries. Capacity building of health economics and incorporation of health technology assessment into the pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals happened earlier in Hungary than in neighbourhood Central Eastern European countries. The aim of this paper is to explore the implications of economic crisis on macro level health care decision making in Hungary. Methods: The pricing and reimbursement process of new health technologies was reviewed to assess the transparency of decision-making and the availability of objective and verifiable criteria for reimbursement. In addition, a longitudinal analysis of public health care and pharmaceutical expenditures was conducted in Hungary between 1993 and 2011. Results: Health policy and major reimbursement decisions are still not fully transparent and made without objective and verifiable criteria in Hungary. The Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund had continuous deficit since its foundation between 1993-2006. During this period the actual public pharmaceutical spending was higher than the planned budget. The highest overspending percentage ((actual - planned)/planned) was observed in parliamentary election years, 21.5% in 1994, 32.1% in 1998, 36.6% in 2002 and 30.4% in 2006. Since 2007 serious cost containment measures have been implemented. Conclusion: There is still room to enforce the cost-effectiveness criterion in pricing and reimbursement decisions, as it improves the allocative efficiency of scarce public resources. The economic crisis creates an opportunity to strengthen the evidence base of health care decision making in Hungary(original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Economic crisis; Health care policy; Medications; Payment for medications

PL

Kryzys gospodarczy; Polityka zdrowotna; Leki; Odpłatność za leki

• Czasopismo: Journal of Health Policy and Outcomes Research
• Rocznik: 2012
• Numer: nr 1
• Strony: 15--20

Twórcy

autor

Zoltán Kaló

• Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary

autor

Imre Boncz

• University of Pécs, Hungary

autor

András Inotai

• Syreon Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary

Bibliografia

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.7365/JHPOR.2012.1.4