Publication:

Pharmacoeconomic exercise for undergraduate medical students

Pharmacoeconomics is defined as a description and analysis of the cost and consequences of drug therapy to healthcare systems and society. It is concerned with identifying healthcare therapies that represent an efficient use of scarce resources. Patients are affected by the high prices of medicines. In the era of therapeutic jungle, the prescriber can help the society by using generic names while prescribing. The doctors must be trained in the initial years of learning to develop a habit of prescribing drugs based on safety and efficacy. When the safety and efficacy are comparable, it is furthermore important to consider the cost of drug, and not get allured by the marketing gimmicks of the pharmaceutical companies. Understanding of pharmacoeconomic principles and evaluation methods will help the health care decision makers in reducing the economic burden on patients and society in India where the health care costs are mainly met out of pocket by the patients.