Barriers to implementing pharmacoeconomics: interview study

ABSTRACT

Background: Pharmacoeconomics estimates the value of pharmaceutical products and services and provides healthcare decision-makers with valuable information. Pharmacoeconomic evaluations have not been found to be influential in the Jordanian health care system. Although pharmacoeconomics as a concept is becoming more recognized in the pharmaceutical world, there are still some barriers to its implementation.

Objective: To establish the perceived barriers to the implementation of pharmacoeconomics in Jordan.

Method: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted. Participants were chosen if they might benefit from the application of pharmacoeconomics; such as members of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) in public, private, and teaching hospitals; administrative pharmacists on drug pricing committees; those who produce pharmacoeconomic data such as academics; and administrative pharmacists in the Joint Procurement Department (JPD). The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Result: Three main barriers to the implementation of pharmacoeconomics were identified. These were related to the nature of the decision-making process, the lack of pharmacoeconomic data, and inadequate knowledge about pharmacoeconomics.

Conclusion: The current use and impact of pharmacoeconomic evaluations in Jordanian healthcare decision-making is restricted, in part, due to the barriers outlined by the respondents.

KEYWORDS:

• Barriers
• interview
• pharmacoeconomics
• qualitative research

Article Highlights

• The nature of the decision-making process, lack of important data and knowledge of pharmacoeconomics were perceived to be the major barriers for the implementation of pharmacoeconomics in Jordan.

• Pharmacoeconomic evaluations are needed to be performed in Jordan.

• Policies and procedures should be addressed to overcome the barriers that limit the successful implementation of pharmacoeconomics.

• Further studies are needed with a larger sample (i.e. quantitatively) to include other parties like the Directorate of health economics at MOH, CPTC and more academics and PTC members.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewers Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author Contribution statement

QA: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – Original draft preparation, Project administration, Fund acquisition, Analysis, Writing – Original draft preparation. EH: Methodology, Analysis, Writing – Original draft preparation HA: Methodology, Aanlysis, Writing – Original draft preparation. TM: Methodology, Writing – Original draft preparation. KR: Writing – Original draft preparation.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by the Deanship of Research/Jordan University of Science and Technology, Grant [20180296].