pLOG

2024-06-27

Changes in Patient Medication Purchase Behavior from Patient Support Program Data

Currently, there are over 100 patient support programs for special medications available in the Taiwanese market. These programs, provided by certified pharmaceutical companies, are offered to medical units and patients for application. Through proper usage aligned with the program’s objectives, they help patients continue their treatment. The most common type of patient medication support program in the market involves purchasing medication out-of-pocket combined with medication giveaways. Patients join these giveaway support programs (referred to as giveaway schemes) to alleviate their financial burden.

The highest proportion of patients joining the program is from the northern region.

In the recent observations of the Data Science and Technology Department at PatientsForce, it was found that in Taiwan, the patient medication support programs have the highest enrollment from the northern region, accounting for nearly 60%. This is followed by the central region with over 30%, the southern region with about 10%, and the eastern region with less than 1%. This distribution correlates with the distribution of diseases and medical resources, but it also indicates differences in financial capability for out-of-pocket expenses.

Additionally, the availability of resources in medical units to assist patients with the application process and referral explanations for patient support programs also limits the usage rate of these programs in certain areas. In remote or less developed regions, the implementation of patient support programs is more challenging, requiring more comprehensive measures and management strategies to overcome these challenges and ensure equal access to the programs for patients.

Due to the management of patient support programs, which involves strict requirements for application approval, information protection, patient privacy handling, and medication journey timelines, the donation program also requires extensive preparation and administrative work. This includes the need for clinical medical staff's assistance in contacting hospital pharmacies or updating the medical information management system with donation information. Such administrative demands indirectly affect whether patients have the opportunity to join the programs. In the past, there have been cases where the difficulty in coordinating with hospital clinical administration limited patients' equal access to support programs. The policies of medical institutions and clinical practices regarding out-of-pocket medication also have an impact, with medical centers having the highest number of patient applications overall.

Patient Medication Habits: Why Choose Hospitals Over Pharmacies?

Observing the channels through which patients acquire medications, even for out-of-pocket oral prescription drugs, 56% of Taiwanese self-paying patients obtain their medications through hospitalization. This is followed by 24% who get their medications during outpatient visits, and only about 20% who purchase from pharmacies. The primary reason for this behavior is the influence of private insurance, which differs from other countries. In Taiwan, patients can receive medications covered by private insurance during both hospital stays and outpatient visits, with higher coverage for inpatient care. This significantly impacts the medication purchasing behavior of out-of-pocket patients.

In addition, the purchasing patterns across different regions in Taiwan all show that hospitalization remains the predominant method, with over half of the patients in each region choosing this route. In the northern and southern regions, the proportion of patients purchasing from pharmacies is slightly higher than those obtaining medications during outpatient visits. However, in the central region, the number of patients buying from pharmacies is notably lower than those purchasing during outpatient visits.

This indicates that patient medication purchasing behavior is influenced by both the supply channels of the medications and the regional purchasing habits of patients. Some out-of-pocket medications may only be available through hospitals, making it impossible for pharmacies to sell these drugs directly, leading to lower quantities of out-of-pocket medications at pharmacies. Additionally, patients may prefer to buy medications at hospital outpatient clinics because it allows them to complete both the consultation and medication purchase in one location, avoiding the need for an additional trip to a pharmacy.
 

Recent Observations on the Decline in Patients' Ability to Afford High-Cost Out-of-Pocket Medications

In self-pay medication support programs, the majority of schemes are designed to provide patients with financial relief after accumulating a certain amount of out-of-pocket spending on medications over time. This relief allows them to apply for complimentary medication treatment. Specifically, for orally administered self-pay medications, patients (the payers) often purchase medications in installments based on their current payment ability (financial status or per-visit insurance limits). Once they accumulate enough self-pay medication purchases to meet the criteria, they then apply to PatientsForce for complimentary medication.

Thus, in some parts of the complimentary medication support programs, each purchase by a patient may signify their expectations for treatment efficacy or their current payment capacity. Recent observations indicate fluctuations in purchasing trends in the first half of the year: February saw a significant decline due to the Lunar New Year holiday, whereas March and April showed higher purchases due to medication stocking. Overall, excluding the Lunar New Year impact, there has been a downward trend in patients' purchase volumes per transaction. This change reflects adjustments in patient medication purchasing behavior under economic pressure and changes in their payment capacity.

These insights from big data observations can inform sponsors of patient support programs and facilitate better resource allocation between medication providers and healthcare institutions. This aims to create a more efficient patient support system that provides more opportunities or resources for patients in need of medication, thereby better aligning with real-world patient needs.