OBJECTIVES : To estimate the costs of specific PAH treatment in Colombia in terms of monotherapy and / or its various combinations (Niza 2018).

METHODS

: Costing of the estimated treatment was carried out assuming an indicator patient (adult, 60 kg) with diagnosis of PAH and candidate for pharmacological treatments available in Colombia, according to clinical practice guidelines. Frequency of use and unit costs of pharmacological treatment (official price source, SISMED) were estimated as the minimum, average and maximum price in 2018. We assume the assumption of a 100% adherence for all the analyzed technologies. The data was analyzed. The cost is presented in both COP (USD, €) and normalizing all of the current legal minimum wage (SMLV) in Colombia.

RESULTS : The annual treatment with specific drugs for PAH has a wide range of cost (USD 200-243,000, equivalent to 2-16 SMLV) in Colombia. The combination of two drugs (USD 4600-283000; 18-1076 SMLV) and three of them (USD 5200-287000; 20-1092 SMLV) imposes a much higher direct cost to the health system. There was no data on adherence, delay in dispensing or overall percentage of patients under treatment.

CONCLUSIONS : As in other countries, the cost of pharmacological treatment of PAH in Colombia is high. This impact on costs at the national level will increase significantly due to the improvements that are being made in detection, treatment, adherence and survival in patients with PAH, as it will increase the number of patients and duration of said specific treatments. This forecast makes the indication, prescription and dispensation of these drugs a priority for improvement through integrated actions of HAPREDCO with the Colombian health management system.