Thai plans to review civil service drug list

Plans to review the list of approved pharmaceuticals for Thailand's civil service health care are before the Comptroller General Department in an effort to control rising costs, according to Director General Piyabhan Nimmanhaemin. He stated in an interview that, "in fiscal year 2006, health care costs for the civil service totalled 37.0 billion baht ($1.07 billion), up nearly 26% from a year earlier. Costs also rose sharply from the average annual increase of 11.5% in 2002 to 2005."

One reason for the sudden jump, he said, "was the growing use of non-approved pharmaceuticals, which typically were newly-developed imported drugs that cost much more than generic drugs or cheaper, older drugs that offer similar benefits." Mr Piyabhan added that "the approved drugs list will also be reviewed and expanded to help counter complaints from medical professionals that the list is outdated, and limits the treatment options available."

The Thai government maintains a list of approved pharmaceuticals to serve as a guideline for hospitals and doctors to prescribe drugs for different diseases, but authorities acknowledge that hospitals and health professionals have often ignored the recommendations. New guidelines are expected to be announced within the next few months, which are forecast to increase patient expenses if non-approved drugs are prescribed.