Perceptions and Opinions of Canadian Hospital Executives
INTRODUCTION
Ensuring value for money spent on drug therapyis one of the most challenging aspects of health care management. In Canada, pharmaceuticals continue to be the single fastest-increasing health care expenditure, representing 17.5% of the total in 2005, up from just 9.5% in 1985. Moreover, total spending on drugs (both prescription and over-the-counter) in Canada is estimated to have reached $24.8 billion in 2005 or $770 for each Canadian. As identified by Canada’s National Pharmaceuticals Strategy, the 3 key areas of concern regarding pharmaceuticals are (1) access; (2) safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use; and (3) system sustainability. The Health Council of Canada has also argued for the implementation of strategies to address these problems.
Issues related to access to new medications, medication safety, and the quality of medication use are important to many health care managers. However, little is known about the perceptions of hospital executives and managers about these topics. Given that many of these individuals oversee the use and management of pharmaceuticals, knowledge of their opinions about these issues would be valuable. The purpose of this study, which was one component of a larger survey on management issues, was to obtain and analyze the opinions of Canadian hospital executives and managers about medication management issues. Cialis Jelly
