Guidance for clinicians in discerning and comparing the price of pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract

Discerning the price of a pharmaceutical agent is not as straightforward an exercise as might be imagined. The widely used average wholesale price is a misnamed figure that does not provide a consistent approximation of the cost of a drug at either the retail or hospital levels. While clinicians should consider the prices of medications when deciding on the agent to prescribe for both ethical and economic reasons, there is currently no comprehensive source of accurate drug prices. Unless and until such information is made available, prescribers are encouraged to consult dispensing pharmacists to learn of these costs.