Cost of Ocular Medications at Priest Hospital
Khemin Iemnoi BSc (Pharm)*
Affiliation : * Department of Pharmacy, Priest Hospital
Objective : To evaluate the cost of ocular medications, both in and out of the national drug lists (NDL)in the
year 2004 used for priests and novices of Priest Hospital
Material and Method: The present study was retrospective and reviewed the prescriptions for out and in
patients who received the treatment at Priest Hospital. 4,508 prescriptions were prescribed between October
2006 and March 2007 evaluated. Comparison of the cost of medications prescribed for each disease category
was performed.
Results : The total of 331 types of drugs was prescribed. The total cost of medications use was 2,292,935 Baht.
This included drugs in the NDL in the year 2004 which cost 813,238 (35.47%) Baht and 1,479,697 (64.53%)
Baht of drugs not on the NDL. Item D was found to have maximum cost (40.11%), followed by Item A (29.23%),
Item C (22.10%), and Item B (8.56%), respectively. Regarding all medications used at Priest Hospital, eye
medications, cost most followed by cardiovascular and central nervous system medications. The eye medication
that cost the most was for glaucoma (73.09%), followed by corticosteroid and other anti-inflammatory
preparations (12.95%) and ocular lubricants and astringents (6.49%).
Conclusion : Ocular medications cost are the most expensive when compared to other medications both on
and outside the NDL. Among the ocular medication prescribed, glaucoma medication was the most expensive.
Keywords : Cost of medications, Outpatient, In patient, Ophthalmological Department
