Challenges for the German Health Care System – Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

We recently addressed the challenges of the German Health Care System (GHCS) in an era of an aging population and economic problems discussing the funding process, hospital management and ambulatory care, with a focus on cost control mechanisms and quality improvement measures. Pharmaceutical issues have not been mentioned in detail. It is of interest that increases in Social Health Insurance (SHI) expenditures on pharmaceuticals in Germany were above the European average in the last decades. There are three main aspects to consider when it comes to discussing the topic of pharmaceuticals in health care services, the efficacy of the drugs, safety issues and cost containment. The paper summarizes pharmaceutical issues as challenges for the German Health Care System.

Zusammenfassung

In einer kürzlich publizierten Arbeit diskutierten wir Grundzüge des Deutschen Gesundheitssystems. Erläutert wurden die Finanzierung des Gesundheitswesens sowie Kosten- und Qualitätsaspekte ambulanter und stationärer Patientenversorgung. Die Besonderheiten pharmazeutischer Regulierungsmaßnahmen wurden dagegen ausgespart. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Möglichkeiten einer evidenzbasierten Einschätzung und ergebnisorientierten Anwendung von Medikamenten in einer nutzenorientierten Gesundheitspolitik vorgestellt.

Key words

aging population - pharmacoecnomics - hospital - ambulatory Care - health - information technology

Schlüsselworter

Alterspyramide - Pharmaökonomie - Krankenhaus - Ambulanter Sektor - Gesundheit - Informationstechnologie

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