USING PHARMACOECONOMICS TO ASSESS THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF ANTIBACTERIALS - A UK PERSPECTIVE

In the UK there is increasing pressure on prescribers to contain drug costs, the only aspect of the healthcare budget about which informatio n is readily accessible. However, this information is often incomplete , making choices between drugs difficult. By following a defined serie s of steps based on identification of clinical and practical differenc es between 2 drugs and an evaluation of the economic consequences of t hese differences, prescribers can use pharmacoeconomics to make diffic ult decisions regarding drug choices. In doing so, prescribers can ens ure that the health service spends money to provide the maximum benefi t for patients.