A NEW Australian study has demonstrated that initial treatment of hypertension with single pills combining two or more medications provides more effective control and delivers substantial cost savings to both consumers and taxpayers, compared with equivalent doses in multiple pills.

Taking medication as a single pill improves medication adherence, combats treatment inertia, improves blood pressure control and reduces cardiovascular events.

International guidelines recommend single-pill combinations (SPCs) as the first step in treating hypertension, but PBS restrictions currently prevent them from being prescribed as initial therapy – even though most are widely available in affordable, generic form.

The George Institute for Global Health-led study analysed 57 SPCs listed on the PBS and found SPCs cost less for patients in nearly all cases, with average savings of 30% for general patients (before reaching the PBS safety net).

Government savings were also significant, with cost reductions of up to 26%.

“Currently, Australia’s PBS rules make it difficult for doctors to start patients on single-pill combinations, despite clear evidence that they reduce serious risks like heart attacks and strokes,” said study co-author Professor Alta Schutte.

“Our analysis shows that using these combinations could save money for both patients and the government – this is a real opportunity to improve policy, cut costs, and most importantly, save lives,” she said.

Read the study HERE. KB

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