Report shows SA scores high for blood pressure

If one needed proof that SA has high blood pressure and a few other disorders to boot, it is to be found in the breakdown of expenditure and use of medication in the private sector - largely in medical schemes.

If one  needed proof that SA has high blood pressure and a few other disorders to boot, it is to be found in the breakdown of expenditure and use of medication in the private sector - largely in medical schemes.

Mediscor, which manages the medicines benefits of medical scheme members, says blood pressure medication (anti-hypertensives) is the top item as a percentage of the total expenditure and a percentage of the total of items in volume.

About 11% of the total of expenditure of medication through medical schemes is spent on anti-hypertensives and this constitutes about 11% of the volume of items dispensed.

Anti-depressants are high on the list with 4,8% of the total spent on them which amounts to 3,8% of the volume of items sold. With increases in diabetes around the world, more is being spent and  used on anti-diabetic medication.

Cholesterol-reducing drugs known as hypolipidaemic agents are now having less spent on them because the prices have come down alongside the prevalence of generics available, says Mediscor. But more of these were used as a percentage of the total benefit package of medication between 2009 and 2010.

Expenditure on medicines in the SA private healthcare industry continues to increase and remains a contributor to the high cost of private healthcare in the country.

Christo Rademan, MD of pharmaceutical benefit management (PBM) company, Mediscor PBM, said  medicine expenditure increased by 7,6% for 2009-2010 compared with  the 17,6% increase  for 2008-2009. The 10% reduction in growth was significant and a most pleasing observation. 

Item cost was the largest contributor to medicine expenditure increasing by 5,8% in 2010 compared with  11,7% in 2009. - Moneyweb.

CitiBusiness - Business News - 11 July 2011