Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group

Research group

We study the realization of aims and expectations for pharmaceutical policy reforms from key aspects of reform.

Pharmaceutical policy is a branch of health policy. It concerns social decision making on pharmaceutical sector and people and organizations around pharmaceuticals. The implementation of pharmaceutical policy reforms should always be evaluated from different perspectives at the beginning of reform and after it has been in force for several years. In the Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, we study the realization of aims and expectations for pharmaceutical policy reforms from the key aspects of reform. We have experience with extensive projects exploring major pharmaceutical policy reforms in Finland, such as the introduction of generic substitution and electronic prescriptions in the 21st century. Our research methodology expertise focuses on the research methods of social sciences, such as various surveys and interview studies. We have research collaboration with key actors in the pharmaceutical sector.

Our research areas:

– The impact of electronic prescription on prescribing, dispensing and medication safety
– Medicine users’ experiences of the use and usefulness of the nationwide patient portal My Kanta pages
– Prescription renewal and medication monitoring
– Medicine availability and shortages
– Generic substitution
– Counselling concerning the generic substitution and reference price system at pharmacies and physicians’ practices

Keywords

community pharmacy electronic prescribing electronic prescriptions generic substitution interchangeable medicine interview study medication monitoring medication safety medicine availability medicine shortages patient counselling patient portal pharmaceutical policy pharmacy pharmacy customer prescription renewal questionnaire survey reference price system

Group members - UEF

Others

Cooperation partners

Elina Lämsä, FaT, Medical Science Liaison Neuroscience, Novartis Finland Oy