A retrospective analysis of direct costs for intravenous bisphosphonate (BF) therapy for the period 2012-2016 is done. Data are derived from the registers of the pharmacies at the hospitals in Plovdiv District where BF therapy is applied. In addition, the annual costs for zoledronic acid available from the NHIF register are also analyzed. All costs are quantified on the basis of national rates set by the legislator. The direct cost of drug therapy for the country falls 32 times from 2018 to 2012 – from BGN 8 983 283.42 to BGN 276 722.51. This trend is also observed in the data from hospital pharmacies where the drop is 99 times from 2012 to 2016 – BGN 2,334,138.90 to BGN 23,542.65, but not only the decrease in the cost of therapy, but also 4 times smaller number of packages paid – from 4004 pcs. for 2012 to 1402 pcs. for the year 2016. An important consequence of the illness is that individuals can not perform their usual daily activities and so, besides spending the NHIF’s budget, they suffer production losses. For more information click here.
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