occurrence of patent cliffs, the abrupt deterioration in sales following patent expirations for medications that had formerly enjoyed generous market share. Secondly, the rise of generic drugs has encroached on the market share of many name brand products.
DRUG PRICES Drug products are especially sensitive to commoditization because after a patent expires, the product transforms from a proprietary profitable product to an undifferentiable commodity rapidly
product to have its own go-to-market strategy. Because of the unique specialty drug product specifications, therapy regimens, drug product handling, storage and transportation requirements, pricing, reimbursement and other factors, drug distribution channels and methodologies are impacted and must be considered prior to product launch. Specialty drugs do not necessarily flow directly downstream to the patient via the dispensing pharmacist. Pharmacy benefit-controlled specialty drugs can be more tightly controlled in real time, improving the payers’ ability to track utilization.
drugs are produced by specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers then sent to specialty distributors or large specialty pharmacies. From there, they may be distributed directly to patients or be sent to retail pharmacies. “White bag” or “brown bag” dispensing strategies may be utilized to eliminate the buy-and-bill process.
drug purchases under the medical benefit. Both “white bagging” and “brown bagging” involve office administration of specialty drug products. Outside of those two options, all the other specialty drug products are administered by a caregiver or the patient.
specialty pharmaceuticals under the medical benefit, distribution is simplified. Claims typically are reimbursed through the medical benefit. Specialty distributors and full- line wholesalers service clinics and physician offices who then handle the administration of the specialty pharmaceuticals to the patients. Specialty distributors are often subsidiaries of full-line wholesalers.
four systems in general use for dispensing drugs for inpatients. • They may be classified as follows: • (i) Individual Prescription Order System. • (ii) Complete Floor Stock System. • (iii) Combination of (i) and (ii). • (iv) The unit dose method.
the small and/or private hospital because of the; • Reduced manpower requirement and • The desirability for individualized service. • Advantages of this system: • (i) All medication orders are directly reviewed by the pharmacist. • (ii) Provides for the interaction of pharmacist, doctor, nurse and patient. • (iii) Provides closer control of inventory.
medications are classified under two separate headings; charge floor stock drugs” and “noncharge floor stock drugs”. • Drugs on the nursing station are divided into “charge floor stock drugs” and “noncharge floor stock drugs”. • Charge floor stock drugs may be defined as those medications that are stocked/placed on the nursing station. • Under this system the nursing station carries both charge and non charge patient medication. • According to this condition the nurses store the drug and administer them to the patient according to the physician’s order. • It is the responsibility of the hospital pharmacist, working in cooperation with the nursing service, to develop ways & means where by adequate supplies of each are always on hand and, in appropriate situation that proper charges are made to the patients account.
separate work force, special equipment, and detailed control procedures to ensure against the possibility of errors. Lost large hospitals have found it economical to prepackage all ward stock items as well as the often-prescribed tablets; capsules, syrups, ointments and creams used both by the in- patients as well as the outpatient clinics. DISADAVANTAGE .
be required? e. Can the item be machine packaged or must hand counting be resorted to? f. What is the stability of the product? Is it dated? g. What will the unit cost of prepackaging amount to? Who should pay it?