The EU expanded in 2004 to include eight transition countries, i.e. Central and Eastern European (CEE) and newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and two other CEE countries are scheduled to join the EU in 2007. Each of these countries has undertaken substantial healthcare reform...

This article evaluates three measures introduced by the Australian Federal Government in 1999 and 2000 that were designed to encourage private health insurance and relieve financial pressure on the public healthcare sector. These policy changes were (i) a 30% premium rebate, (ii) health insurers...

This article uses data from a cohort of elderly and retired persons over the 1996-2001 period in the US to (i) determine the extent to which changes in socioeconomic or demographic characteristics, particularly age, income and education, impact the total amount that is spent on prescription...

Objective: To conduct a cost-effectiveness study of nasal budesonide versus surgical treatment in the management of nasal polyps. Design and methods: A decision-tree model reflecting two different treatment strategies for nasal polyps in Sweden was developed. The first strategy was initial...

Objective: Sepsis occurs in a heterogeneous population. A prospective nationwide surveillance study found that populations stratified by infection type had significant differences in the incidence of sepsis syndrome, rate of complications and mortality. The objective of this study was to explore...

Repaglinide (Prandin(R), NovoNorm(R), GlucoNorm(R)), an oral insulin secretagogue, was the first meglitinide analogue to become available for use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drug lowers postprandial glucose excursions by targeting early-phase insulin release, an effect thought...

Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and it has been shown that primary prevention with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) lipid-lowering drugs can reduce cardiovascular events. Acquisition costs vary between statins and this may be an important...

Anaesthetic drugs typically comprise approximately 5% or less of a hospital pharmacy budget, yet they are a common target for cost reduction measures. In particular, there is considerable pressure to use less costly products where alternatives exist and to limit the introduction of expensive new...

Seasonal influenza is a prevalent and highly contagious acute respiratory disease that, year on year, results in increased morbidity and mortality on a global scale. Because of the widespread and debilitating nature of the disease, annual influenza epidemics result in substantial workplace...