Arterial Hypertension Treatment Costs in Poland in the Years 1992–1999

Abstract

Background: Mortality in cardiovascular diseases in Poland is still high and one of the main cause of it is often ineffective treatment of hypertension. One of the significant elements of arterial hypertension treatment costs is the price of hypotensive medicines.
Materials and methods: The aim of this study has been to discover whether and if yes to what extent the costs of pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension changed in the years 1992–1999, what was the ratio of these costs to incomes and how these figures would compare with those in other countries.
Results: The medicines most commonly used in Poland have been considered. A group of more recent hypotensive medicines has been seperated and a monthly cost of treating with them and the real percentage of reduction have been calculated. It has turned out that in comparision with average incomes, the prices of most of the hypotensive medicines fell down, some of them significantly, in the period analyzed. There was a slight increase in the prices of medicines previously and presently considered cheap, such as diuretics and beta-blockers. Apart from the commonly used medicines, more recent and much more expensive are used as well. Their prices can be as high as half of the lowest monthly salary. It is especially costly when these medicines accompany others, which is essential in some cases. The costs of medical consultations, laboratory research as well as the medicines are lower in Poland than in other countries. However, small discounts for the insured patients result in high expenses incurred by them.
Conclusions: It is necessary to keep relatively low prices of basic antihypertensive drugs and decrease the prices of many new preparations. The existing hypertension outpatient departments should be preserved.