Abstract
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IntroductionThe elevated costs with biologic products threaten the sustainability of health services, and, therefore, the access to these medicines in the perspectives of user, health professional, health manager and system. The entry of biosimilar products in the market could be an option to subsidize the search for solutions to those problems.
MethodsWe conducted a rapid review using the databases Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CRD. The eligibility criteria were HTAs, systematic reviews and cross-sectional studies.
ResultsLiterature search retrieved 640 registries and, after duplicate removal, screening of titles and abstracts and full text reading, nine cross-sectional studies were selected. From a user's point of view, the following barriers were identified: lack of knowledge about the medicine, distance between the place of living and the health service (especially in the rural area), long waiting periods for service, passivity in regard to treatment. From a health professional's point of view the barriers were: acceptability of the expert in regard to treatment, interchangeability and substitution, the perception of lack of data showing efficacy and safety. Finally, from the payer's (or health manager) point of view, the barriers were: high cost of medicine, problems with reimbursement and bureaucracy. We did not retrieve any barriers from the health system's perspective from the selected studies.
ConclusionsThe entry of biosimilar medicines in the market can induce competition and, therefore, reduce prices of biologic treatments. It is necessary to search for potential solutions to the access barriers identified in this rapid review.
