[Translated article] Requirements for Accessing New Dermatology Drugs in Spain: Results of the EQUIDAD Study

• Published in: Actas dermo-sifiliográficas 2024-03, Vol.115 (3), p.T237-T245
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Díaz, M., Flórez, Á., Ara-Martín, M., Arias-Santiago, S., Botella-Estrada, R., Cañueto, J., Carretero-Hernández, G., Coto-Segura, P., de Eusebio-Murillo, E., García-Latasa de Araníbar, F.J., García-Patos Briones, V., Gardeazabal García, J., Gómez-Fernández, C., Hernández-Ostiz, S., Izu Belloso, R., López-Ávila, A., Manchado López, P., Martín-Santiago, A., Martinez de Espronceda Ezquerro, I., Mateu-Puchades, A., Mercader-García, P., Notario Rosa, J., Palacio Aller, L., Pérez-Hortet, C., Quintana-Castanedo, L., Rivera, R., Rocamora Duran, V., Rodríguez-Nevado, I.M., Ruiz-Villaverde, R., Suárez, J., Trasobares-Marugán, L., Vizán-de Uña, C., Yanguas, I., Zulaica-Garate, A., García-Doval, I., Descalzo, M.Á., Grau-Pérez, M., Carrascosa-Carrillo, J.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atopic dermatitis; Dermatitis atópica; Drugs; Equidad; Equity; España; Fármacos; Oncology; Oncología; Psoriasis; Spain
• ISSN: 0001-7310; 1578-2190
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2024.01.019

[Display omitted] Although the Spanish Ministry of Health prepares national therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) and drug reimbursement policies, each of the country's 17 autonomous communities (ACs) is responsible for health care services and prescription requirements in its territory. The aim of the EQUIDAD study was to describe and explore potential differences in prescription requirements for new dermatology drugs across the autonomous communities. Cross-sectional study conducted in April and May, 2023. Two dermatologists with management responsibilities from each autonomous community reported on territorial and more local prescription requirements for drugs covered by national TPRs issued between 2016 and 2022. Thirty-three researchers from 17 autonomous communities participated. The data submitted revealed between-community inequities in access to new drugs. Overall, 64.7% of the regions imposed additional prescription requirements to those mentioned in the TPRs for psoriasis. This percentage was lower for atopic dermatitis (35.3%) and melanoma (11.8%). The most common requirement for accessing a new drug was a previous prescription for another drug. Differences and additional requirements were also detected at the local level (i.e., differences between hospitals within the same autonomous community). Spain's autonomous communities have multiple regional and local prescription requirements that are not aligned with national TPR recommendations. These differences result in inequitable access to new drugs for both patients and practitioners across Spain. En España, aunque el Ministerio de Sanidad elabora el informe de posicionamiento terapéutico (IPT) y las condiciones de reembolso de los fármacos, las Comunidades Autónomas (CC. AA.) gestionan los servicios de salud y deciden sobre las condiciones de prescripción en su ámbito territorial. El objetivo del estudio EQUIDAD fue describir los condicionantes para la prescripción de los nuevos fármacos en Dermatología en las CC. AA. y sus posibles diferencias. Estudio transversal realizado en abril-mayo del 2023. Dos dermatólogos con responsabilidades directivas de cada Comunidad Autónoma (C. A.) informaron sobre los condicionantes autonómicos y locales en la prescripción de los fármacos cuyo IPT para el tratamiento de enfermedades dermatológicas fue publicado en los años 2016-2022. Los datos fueron recogidos mediante un cuestionario online. Un total de 33 investigadores de 17 CC. AA. participaron en el est