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U.S. Drug Prices Outstrip Other Medical Costs
15 มีนาคม 2554
Date: 15 March 2011
U.S. prices for brand-name prescription drugs rose at a faster rate than costs
for other medical goods and services over the last four years, according to a
new U.S. government report.
The nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the "usual
and customary" price index for the top 100 commonly used drugs increased
by an annual average of 6.6 percent from 2006 through the first quarter of
2010, compared with a 3.8 percent average annual increase in the consumer price
index for medical goods and services.
The basket of drugs contained 55 brand-name medicines and 45 generic drugs.
Prices for the brand-name drugs rose by an annual average of 8.3 percent, while
prices for the generics fell by 2.6 percent annually, according to the report.
When looking at the 100-drug basket by active ingredient -- meaning brand-name
products and generics with the same active ingredient were considered as the
same drug -- the GAO found that prices rose by about 2.6 percent a year.
"This report reminds us that this is an area where we should be looking
for savings for taxpayers and beneficiaries," Democratic Rep. Pete Stark,
a ranking member of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on health,
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said it was "pleased"
that the GAO took into account the mix of brand and generic medicines that
patients actually use.
"The report`s key finding shows prices have
been increasing at a rate of 2.6 percent annually, which is lower than overall
medical inflation," the trade group said in a statement.