Browsing by Author "Hussain, Shazhad"

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    Fixed dose drug combinations – are they pharmacoeconomically sound?:
    (Informa UK Limited, 2020) Godmana, Brian; McCabee, Holly; Leong, Trudy D.; Mueller, Debjani; Martini, Antony P.; Hoxhak, Iris; Mwital, Julius C.; Mutashambara Rwegereram, Godfrey; Masselen, Amos; Costao, Juliana de Oliveira; Rezende Macedo do Nascimentoa, Renata Cristina; Pires de Lemoso, Livia Lovato; Tachkovs, Konstantin; Milushewas, Petya; Patrickt, Okwen; Lum Nibat, Loveline; Laiusw, Ott; Sefah, Israel; Abdulsalimy, Suhaj; Soleymaniz, Fatemeh; Guantai, Anastasia N; Achieng, Loice; Oluka, Margaret; Jakupi, Arianit; Logviss, Konstantīns; Hassali, Mohamed Azmi; Kibuule, Dan; Kalemeera, Francis; Mubita, Mwangana; Fadaregg, Joseph; Ogunleye, Olayinka O.; Saleem, Zikria; Hussain, Shazhad; Bochenek, Tomasz; Mardare, Ileana; Alrasheedy, Alian A.; Furst, Jurij; Tomek, Dominik; Markovic-Pekovic, Vanda; Rampamba, Enos M.; Alfadl, Abubakr; Amu, Adefolarin A.; Matsebula, Zinhle; Thi Phuong, Thuy Nguyen; Thanh, Binh Nguyen; Kalungia, Aubrey Chichonyi; Zaranyika, Trust; Masuka, Nyasha; Olarua, Ioana D.; Wale, Janney; Hill, Ruaraidh; Kurdia, Amanj; Timoneya, Angela; Campbell, Stephen; Meyer, Johanna C.
    Introduction: There are positive aspects regarding the prescribing of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) versus prescribing the medicines separately. However, these have to be balanced against concerns including increased costs and their irrationality in some cases. Consequently, there is a need to review their value among lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which have the greatest prevalence of both infectious and noninfectious diseases and issues of affordability. Areas covered: Review of potential advantages, disadvantages, cost-effectiveness, and availability of FDCs in high priority disease areas in LMICs and possible initiatives to enhance the prescribing of valued FDCs and limit their use where there are concerns with their value. Expert commentary: FDCs are valued across LMICs. Advantages include potentially improved response rates, reduced adverse reactions, increased adherence rates, and reduced costs. Concerns include increased chances of drug:drug interactions, reduced effectiveness, potential for imprecise diagnoses and higher unjustified prices. Overall certain FDCs including those for malaria, tuberculosis, and hypertension are valued and listed in the country’s essential medicine lists, with initiatives needed to enhance their prescribing where currently low prescribing rates. Proposed initiatives include robust clinical and economic data to address the current paucity of pharmacoeconomic data. Irrational FDCs persists in some countries which are being addressed. KEYWORDS: Fixed dose combinations; pharmacoeconomics; adherence; medicines; noncommunicable diseases; infectious diseases; lower and middle income countries
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    Initiatives to increase the prescribing of low cost generics :
    (KEIJournals, 2017) Godman, Brian; Baker, Amanj; Leporowski, Axel; Morton, Alec; Baumgärte, Christoph; Bochenek, Tomasz; Fadare, Joseph; Finlayson, Alexander; Hussain, Shazhad; Khan, Babar; Kalaba, Marija; Kibuule, Dan; Kwon, Hye-Young; Melien, Oyvind; Nascimento, Renata CRM; Salem, Ahmed; Schiffers, Krijn; Truter, Ilse; Voncina, Luka; Hassali, Mohamed Azmi
    Getting the most out of the pharmaceutical budget is critical across all countries as the financial pressures on healthcare systems intensify. In this paper, we review global practice on encouraging the use of low costs generics versus branded pharmaceuticals, including patented products in the same class where care is not compromised, across countries to guide future practice. Our review ranges widely across European countries as well as other high income countries, including Abu Dhabi, Japan and the USA, and other low and middle income countries. There is a particular focus on Scotland, building on previous publications. We conclude based on multiple publications, including several case studies, that achieving efficiency in pharmaceutical spending is possible in virtually all environments, although there are examples of technologies where generic or therapeutic substitution should not be encouraged. However, there is no magic bullet to achieving full and appropriate use of generics. Countries have to be prepared to use a number of different education, economic, engineering and enforcement methods including prescribing restrictions to achieve success. Similarly, different approaches to achieve low prices for good quality generics given the considerable price differences that currently exist. The combination of low prices and increased use of generics will help achieve or attain universal healthcare, benefiting all key stakeholder groups. We conclude with a call for greater cross-country learning in pursuit of what should be a common goal for all health systems. Keywords: Co-payments, compulsory substitution, generics, prescribing restrictions, prices, reforms, Scotland