LAUSR

Background: Beijing municipal government launched a Free Drug Program (FDP) in 2013 to reduce the financial burden of schizophrenia patients. Objectives: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a FDP designed for schizophrenia patients in Beijing, China. Methods: In all, 2007 schizophrenia patients enrolled in an FDP (FDP group) and 2001 schizophrenia patients who were not enrolled (non-FDP group) were randomly selected for a cross-sectional survey in August 2015. The study sought to develop a cost-effectiveness model to assess the FDP from the societal perspective in Beijing, China. Scenario analyses explored the potential strategies to further improve the cost-effectiveness of the FDP. Results: The FDP group was associated with lower socioeconomic status and more advanced disease than the non-FDP group (unemployment rate: 48.8% vs 37.3%, p < .001; disability rate: 91.2% vs 64.1%, p < .001; overall comorbidity rate: 34.9% vs 28.8%, p < .001). The two groups exhibited similar disease severity and quality of life. However, the FDP group was associated with significantly lower direct medical costs (coefficient –.342, p = .003) and indirect costs (coefficient –.473, p < .001) than the non-FDP group. The base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per gained quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for the FDP group relative to the non-FDP group was 1.480 times of 2015 China’s gross domestic product per capita. Home drug delivery and long-lasting injection treatment could reduce the ICER for the FDP group relative to the non-FDP group by 57.8% and 29.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The FDP was attractive to schizophrenia patients with lower socioeconomic status and more advanced disease. The cost-effectiveness of the FDP was acceptable and could be further improved by home drug delivery and long-lasting injection treatment.