A Comparative Analysis of Pricing Databases Utilized for Drug Cost Inputs in Health Technology Assessments in Ireland and the UK

OBJECTIVES: The inclusion of comparative drug costs in Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) is fundamental in the economic assessment of a new intervention. Technology appraisal guidelines in Ireland and the UK advise that list prices for medicines should be used in base case analyses. This study aimed to identify databases from which list prices for drugs are obtained in Ireland and the UK, and subsequently examine the reliability and ease of access to each source.

METHODS: Secondary research was conducted to identify databases for obtaining list prices of drugs in Ireland and the UK. An assessment was undertaken to establish who maintains the databases, how often they are updated, and if there are any access restrictions.

RESULTS: In Ireland, the reimbursement list maintained by the PCRS and the price realignment file maintained by the HSE were considered the most efficient databases for obtaining the list price of drugs reimbursed under the General Medical Services, the High-Tech Drug Scheme, or select hospital products. Both sources have no access restrictions and were deemed to be an accurate reflection of current list prices. Prices for the remaining proportion of hospital drugs require the utilization of other sources (IMS, MIMS, HTA assessment reports, or contacting the CPU), all of which have access restrictions or are potentially subject to inaccuracy. In the UK, the list prices of reimbursed drugs can be obtained via the British National Formulary which is maintained by NICE, or the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices which is maintained by the NHS. Both databases have no local access restrictions, are updated regularly, and are regarded to be reflective of current list prices.

CONCLUSIONS: The development of a single pricing database including the list price for all reimbursed drugs in Ireland similar to databases in the UK may benefit HTA developers and assessors.