Imperative to consider multiple initiatives to maximize prescribing efficiency from generic availability: case history from Abu Dhabi

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmaceutical expenditure has risen rapidly in Abu Dhabi, resulting in policies surrounding generics. However, various circumstances will reduce potential savings, including pharmacists still being free to dispense either originator or branded generics and be fully reimbursed. Objectives: To research the changes in utilization patterns of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and lipid-lowering drugs before and after combined reforms on generics; and subsequently, calculate potential savings based on ‘best practices’ among Western European countries. Methods: An uncontrolled before-and-after observational study of utilization and expenditure of PPIs, statins and ezetimibe between 2004 and 2010, as well as up to 12 months before the first generic policy, to 1 year after the second generic policy, was carried out. Utilization was converted to defined daily doses (DDDs; 2011 DDDs) and DDDs/1000 inhabitants per day. Expenditure/DDD was calculated for omeprazole and simvastatin. Results: PPI utilization rose by 6.5-fold from 2004 to 2010, principally driven by increased utilization of patent-protected PPIs, although more recently stabilization in esomperazole utilization has occurred. Similar changes were seen for statins. Introduction of best practices would reduce PPI expenditure in 2010 by 32.8 million United Arab Emirates dirham (AED; €6.26 million) and statins by over 27 million AED (€5.15 million). Conclusion: Limited demand-side measures led to increased utilization of patent-protected products in Abu Dhabi following the generic reforms. Successful measures will release considerable resources.

Keywords::

• Abu Dhabi
• demand-side measures
• drug utilization
• generics
• pharmaceuticals

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The source for the expenditure and utilization data for Abu Dhabi was Intercontinental Marketing Services. The project was funded by Health Authority Abu Dhabi. M Abuelkhair, S Fahmy and S Abdu work for Health Authority Abu Dhabi. The work was also supported in part by a grant from the Karolinska Institutet. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

HAAD: Health Authority Abu Dhabi; PPI: Proton pump inhibitor.

Data taken from [1,2,5,8,13,14,24,25,35–37].