[REG-10] Pharmacoeconomics (CMA, CEA, CUA, CBA), ICER, QALYs & Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAIn)
REG-10 • 10. Clinical & Hospital PharmacyLearning Objectives
Compare the 4 core pharmacoeconomic evaluation methodologies (Cost-Minimization Analysis [CMA], Cost-Effectiveness Analysis [CEA], Cost-Utility Analysis [CUA], Cost-Benefit Analysis [CBA]).; Calculate the **Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER = [Cost_A - Cost_B] / [Effect_A - Effect_B])** and **Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY = Years of Life × Utility Weight 0 to 1.0)**.; Distinguish Direct Medical, Direct Non-Medical, Indirect (Productivity loss), and Intangible costs in Indian healthcare (HTAIn / PM-JAY).
Chapter Overview & Core Explanation
Pharmacoeconomics weighs the total clinical health benefit of a medicine against its financial cost—helping hospital formularies, insurance programmes like Ayushman Bharat, and patients choose therapies that deliver the greatest health improvement per rupee spent.
Key Exam & Clinical Takeaways
- Cost-Minimization Analysis (CMA) can ONLY be used when the clinical efficacy and safety of the two drug alternatives have already been proven equivalent (such as bioequivalent generics).
- Cost-Utility Analysis (CUA) measures outcomes in **Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)**, whereas Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) measures outcomes in **natural clinical units** (mmHg, mg/dL, life-years).