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. 2025;85(2):261-280.

[Definition of high-priced and very high-priced drugs for Argentina]

[Article in Spanish]
Affiliations
  • PMID: 40198162
Free article

[Definition of high-priced and very high-priced drugs for Argentina]

[Article in Spanish]
Manuel Donato et al. Medicina (B Aires). 2025.
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: New drugs contribute to improving people's quality of life with more precise and effective treatments; however, their high acquisition prices continually put the sustainability of the health system and equitable access at risk throughout the world. A starting point for its approach should be to delimit the concept of "high-price" and "very high-price" drugs, but there is no global consensus and it is not defined for Argentina. The objective was to establish the definition of high-price and very high-price drugs for Argentina through a panel with modified Delphi technique with representatives of the health system.

Materials and methods: A descriptive study was conducted with a qualitative-quantitative approach in three phases that include a Phase 1 systematic review of the literature, a Phase 2 analysis of the profile of selected drugs, and a Phase 3 panel.

Results: For the systematic review, 1895 publications were identified, of which 23 were included with some type of definition of high-cost or high-price drugs. A clinical and economic analysis was performed for ten reference drugs that provided examples to the panel. The modified Delphi panel consisted of a first round of 14 and a second round of consensus of 27 representatives, which resulted in the agreed definition.

Discussion: This work collect the experience and vision of representatives of important institutions in our country and provides a key definition for addressing these technologies.

Introducción: Los nuevos medicamentos contribuyen a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con tratamientos más precisos y eficaces, sin embargo, sus altos precios de adquisición ponen continuamente en riesgo la sostenibilidad del sistema de salud y el acceso con equidad en todo el mundo. Un punto de partida para su abordaje debería ser delimitar el concepto del medicamento de "alto precio" y "muy alto precio", pero el mismo no tiene consenso a nivel global y no está definido para Argentina. El objetivo fue establecer la definición de medicamento de alto y muy alto precio para Argentina a través de un panel con metodología Delphi modificado, con representantes del sistema sanitario. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo con abordaje cuali-cuantitativo de tres fases que comprenden una Fase 1 de revisión sistemática de la literatura, una Fase 2 de análisis del perfil de medicamentos seleccionados, y una Fase 3 de panel. Resultados: Para la revisión sistemática se identificaron 1895 publicaciones, de las cuales se incluyeron 23 con algún tipo de definición de medicamentos de alto costo o de alto precio. Se realizó un análisis clínico y económico para diez medicamentos de referencia que aportaron ejemplos al panel. El panel Delphi modificado consistió en una primera ronda de 14 y una segunda ronda de consenso de 27 representantes, que dieron como resultado la definición consensuada. Discusión: Este trabajo recopila la experiencia y visión de representantes de instituciones importantes de nuestro país y aporta una definición clave para el abordaje de estas tecnologías.

Keywords: Delphi technique; healthcare financing; pharmaceutical preparations; technology high-cost.

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