Policy Interventions to Tackle Health Inequities in Macedonia: Patient Rights and Reference Pricing of Pharmaceuticals

摘要

Policy Interventions to Tackle Health Inequities in Macedonia: Patient Rights and Reference Pricing of PharmaceuticalsBackground. Health inequities refer to differences in the health status among the various groups of the population caused by modifiable external conditions and environment created in and around the health care system. The Government of Republic of Macedonia has adopted law of patient's rights and implemented referent pricing of the pharmaceuticals with primary purpose to deal with inequities in health care.Aim. The aim of this paper is to present the challenges in implementation of two health policy interventions developed to reduce health inequities in Macedonia.Methods. The study is descriptive analysis of two health policy interventions. The interventions selected for analysis were most popular health policies widely promoted by the Government. The paper reviews the process, adoption of the laws and implementation of the interventions. The initial impact of the interventions is assessed over media reports, responses of the medical community, patients and is compared to international experiences.Results. Available information show that implementation of the law of patients rights has not achieved its primarily purpose, yet. The reference pricing has shifted the burden for financing of the pharmaceuticals from the Health insurance fund, to the patients.Conclusions. More specific studies needs to be designed to assess the impact of these policies on the equity in the health care system in Macedonia.