McNaughton Harry, Kayes Nicola, McPherson Kathryn
Stroke/Rehabilitation Research, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington.
N Z Med J. 2006 Apr 21;119(1232):U1939.
Interferon beta is prescribed for people with multiple sclerosis in an attempt to reduce the number of relapses occurring and to slow progression of disability. The current cost of the subsidy provided by PHARMAC for this drug is over NZ$5 million annually and is likely to rise. The history of funding decisions for interferon beta, the evidence for cost-effectiveness of the drug, and other possible ways of improving outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis other than this particular pharmaceutical subsidy are considered in this article. The authors conclude that the evidence for cost-effectiveness of interferon beta is not compelling, and other options need to be considered in an integrated package of health services for all people with MS in New Zealand.
β-干扰素被开给患有多发性硬化症的人，以试图减少复发次数并减缓残疾进展。目前，药物评估管理局（PHARMAC）为这种药物提供的补贴费用每年超过500万新西兰元，而且可能还会增加。本文探讨了β-干扰素的资助决策历史、该药物成本效益的证据，以及除了这种特定的药物补贴之外，改善多发性硬化症患者治疗效果的其他可能途径。作者得出结论，β-干扰素成本效益的证据并不确凿，对于新西兰所有多发性硬化症患者的综合医疗服务方案，需要考虑其他选择。
