[Cost reducing of or by drugs. More rationality and efficiency in drug therapy].

The expenditure incurred in the German statutory health insurance (SHI) in relation to drugs, are characterized not only by the amount of drug prices, but also by their degree of efficient usage. The prevention of superfluous and inappropriate pharmaceutical supply leads to direct savings in expenditure, a drug-based guideline-oriented therapy, and prevention of diseases and deficiency symptoms leads to savings by avoiding hospitalizations, operations, and maintaining the ability to work. Prescriptions of new and expensive me-too drugs with no additional benefit bind financial resources of the SHI, which should be available for pharmaceutical therapeutic innovations.