A Survey of Pharmacoeconomics in the Canadian Pharmaceutical Industry

Abstract

OBJECTIVES—To examine the adoption of pharmacoeconomics by the Canadian pharmaceutical industry.

METHODS—A mail survey was sent to all companies which indicated that they were appropriate candidates. Very small firms and those not currently marketing drugs were excluded. The survey determined when pharmacoeconomics activities had begun, which departments were responsible, drugs examined, and types of analyses undertaken.

RESULTS—Of the 36 surveys mailed, 25 (69%) were returned. Nineteen (76%) companies were currently involved in pharmacoeconomics studies with an average of 1.5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) per firm. Seventy nine percent had done cost effectiveness studies and 58% cost minimization studies. Eighty percent of respondents had analyzed marketed drugs, 52% had done so in the premarketing phase, and 92% planned to conduct studies within the next year.

CONCLUSIONS—Canadian companies have quickly adopted pharmacoeconomics and its use is likely to expand in the future.