Statines, Cholesterol and Money

Overview

One of the reasons of increasing costs for medicaments is spreading new treatment methods which were proved to prolong the life of patients. However, the difference between the term „a patient“ and „a normal, healthy individual“ is not apparent in some cases because these new methods are probably able to prolong the life in individuals which do not present the signs of the disease. Statines – medicaments for decreasing the level of cholesterol are the example. This paper presents the modelation of costs of these medicaments which indicates that the optimal treatment of every second individual which would probably increase the life would double or triple the costs. The majority of inhabitants of the Czech Republic in particular age groups would benefit from these medicaments. These medicaments are not financially unvailable for majority of citizens. The question is raised whether insurants should contribute 50 % of the price since other basic life needs like food, water, etc. are not provided for free as well. The alternative solution would be defining the narrow group of patients to whom the statines would be covered by health insurance.

Key words:
costs for medicaments – medicaments for decreasing – cholesterol – statines