Development of use of subsidized prescription drugs. A comparison of drug consumption requiring subsidy in the county of Storstrøm during the periods 1 January--30 April 1991 and 1 January--30 April 1992
Jensen, P.B.; Vass, M.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 155(26): 2020-2024
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 8328040 Document Number: 427315
In all counties in Denmark, the consumption of subsidized prescribed drugs is registered. The drugs are listed in accordance with the international anatomical-therapeutical-chemical classification system and the consumption is listed in defined daily doses and prices. Comparing the first four months of 1991 with the first four months of 1992 in a Danish county (Storstrøms Amt) shows a general increase in the amount of prescribed drugs (mean 11.0%). Ulcer-drugs, antihypertensiva, antibiotics and analgetics have increased more than 20%. The increase in prices has been 3.8%. It is concluded that these sort of statistics justify the debate on drug prescriptions and act as a tool for monitoring drug prescriptions in general practice for wanted groups of drugs. Further refinements of the statistics can be made. The increase in county grants in "running prices" has been nearly constant over the last ten years, except for 1990 due to the introduction of a special law.