ArticleDrug, healthcare and patient safety2019
Utilization of over-the-counter analgesics in two private medical insurance schemes in South Africa.
Article in Drug, healthcare and patient safety, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- The misuse of codeine containing medicines: Perceptions and behaviours of qualified pharmacy professionals.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2024Article
- Intellectual capital and financial performance of South African development community's general insurance companies.Heliyon · 2021Article
- Over-the-Counter Medicine Utilization by Beneficiaries Under Medical Schemes in South Africa.Drug, healthcare and patient safety · 2020Article
- Analgesic Self-medication Among Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in a South African Chiropractic Teaching Clinic: A Cross-sectional Study.Journal of chiropractic medicineArticle
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionIn South Africa there is an easy access to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and expenditure is high. Certain OTC products are available to the public in general stores, while others may only be available at pharmacies. It is also common for OTC medicines to be prescribed by a doctor for treatment of minor illnesses. Individuals with medical insurance usually have cover for these products, but typically only to a limited extent.
aimTo investigate the utilization patterns in two medical insurance schemes of OTC analgesic products in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) category N02BE51 which includes medicines containing paracetamol and varying combinations of codeine, caffeine and antihistamines. METHODOLOGY: Data were obtained for two benefit plans, one with generous, high benefits (HI), the other with lower benefits (LO). Data covered utilization of OTC medicines in the N02BE51 group, indicating whether the medicines were purchased at a pharmacy or dispensed by a doctor. Doctors were further categorised as contracted/network or non-network providers. Product costs and volumes were analysed according to access directly by the beneficiary, recommendation by a pharmacist, or prescription from a doctor.
resultsCompared to doctors, pharmacists issued more-expensive products. Average costs were higher in the HI plan compared to the LO plan. Pharmacists showed a preference for dispensing larger and more expensive pack sizes. Doctors showed better cost containment: the average cost of products in HI was twice that of LO. Doctors dispensing directly to patients issued smaller pack sizes and lower-priced products. Contracted network doctors did not appear to impact on costs.
conclusionAmong the privately-insured individuals studied, the avaiIability, cost and formulation of N02BE51 OTC products appeared to be poorly regulated, whether by the consumer, pharmacist, medical insurance scheme or legislation. Doctors demonstrate better cost containment by prescribing less costly, smaller pack-size alternatives compared to pharmacists.
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