NEW Zealand researchers have found that people who do not collect prescriptions due to cost are 34% more likely to go to hospital within the year, than those who were able to afford their medication.
The authors say that any revenue to the health system from reinstating co-payments may be offset by the costs associated with avoidable hospitalisations, estimated at millions per year.
The Victoria University of Wellington's study analysed health data for 71,502 people from the New Zealand Health Surveys conducted between 2014 and 2019.
"Nearly 6,000 people in the sample reported not picking up a prescription in the previous 12 months because they couldn't afford the $5 co-payment," said lead author Dr Mona Jeffreys.
"Our analysis found people in this group were more likely to end up in hospital."
Among those who couldn't afford the $5 charge, 60% were admitted to hospital during the study period, compared with 43% of those who paid the fee.
"The cost of one night in hospital is about $1,200 and the average length per stay is three nights, so there are potentially huge cost savings if admissions can be avoided.
"We conservatively estimate $32.4 million a year could be saved if these extra hospitalisations did not have to happen," said Jeffreys.
The study's findings mirror those of other research that suggest free prescriptions reduce hospitalisation rates.
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