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. 2024 Sep 28:7:100129.
doi: 10.1016/j.hpopen.2024.100129. eCollection 2024 Dec 15.

Improving antibiotic prescribing - Recommendations for funding and pricing policies to enhance use of point-of-care tests

Affiliations

Improving antibiotic prescribing - Recommendations for funding and pricing policies to enhance use of point-of-care tests

Sabine Vogler et al. Health Policy Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Diagnostics can contribute to the improved quality of antibiotic prescribing. However, there is potential to enhance the use of point-of-care tests (POCTs) in general practice. This paper presents fit-for-purpose policy recommendations related to funding and pricing for POCTs applied for community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections (CA-ARTIs).

Methods: The development of the recommendations was informed by an analysis of the current status of funding and pricing policy frameworks for CA-ARTI POCTs in European countries, and an identification of barriers and facilitators for their uptake. Draft recommendations were developed and subsequently revised based on written and verbal feedback from meetings with experts.

Results: The proposal includes four recommendations for policy interventions related to funding and three recommendations regarding pricing policies. Two of the funding policy-related recommendations concern physicians' remuneration, and two relate to product-specific reimbursement (public coverage) of the CA-ARTI POCTs. The pricing-related recommendations include a proposal to explore the introduction of price regulation, to pilot subscription-fee procurement models and to enhance more strategic approaches in public procurement of CA-ARTI POCTs.

Conclusions: Optimised pricing and funding policies could make a difference in enhancing uptake of CA-ARTI POCTs. It is crucial for the successful implementation of policies to consider country settings. Additionally, supportive policy action is recommended, including the systematic use of health technology assessment, stakeholder communication, and monitoring and evaluation.

Keywords: Antibiotic prescribing; Community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections; Diagnostic; Funding; Point-of-care test; Pricing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

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Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Process for the development of the policy recommendations.

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