Can a Different Formulation of Vitamin D3 Allow Savings? An Analysis From an Italian Regional Perspective.

ABSTRACT: Vitamin D3 reported in Italy in 2017 the net expenditure of almost €180 million, reaching the first place for consumption and the third place for conventional pharmaceutical spending. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a shift of vitamin D3 prescriptions toward 100 000 IU formulation, less costly, could allow savings from the health-care perspective. An approach promoting the prescription of this formulation has been applied in a local health authority (ASL CN2) in Piedmont Region (Italy) starting from 2015. The retail pharmaceutical market and the consumption of vitamin D3 has been analyzed from year 2014 to 2017 in order to evaluate differences in expenditures. Despite an increase in consumption, the introduction of the new formulation enabled ASL CN2 to save about €280 000 in

SUBMITTER: Sano M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6624911 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature