The determinants of pricing in pharmaceuticals : are U.S. prices really higher than those of Canada?

This paper studies price determination in pharmaceutical markets using data for 25 countries, six years and a comprehensive list of products from the MIDAS IMS database. We show that market power and the quality of the product has a significantly positive impact of prices. The nationality of the producer appears to have a small and often insignificant impact on prices, which suggests that countries which regulates prices have relatively little power to do it in a way that advances narrow national interest. We produce a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon based on the fact that low negotiated prices in a country would have a knock-on effect in other markets, and is thus strongly resisted by producers. Another key finding is that the U.S. has prices that are not significantly higher than those of countries with similar income levels. This, together with the former observation on the effect of the nationality of producers casts doubt on the ability of countries to pursue “free-riding" regulation

The Determinants of Pricing in Pharmaceuticals: Are U.S. Prices Really Higher than Those of Canada?

This paper studies price determination in pharmaceutical markets using data for 25 countries, six years and a comprehensive list of products from the MIDAS IMS database. We show that market power and the quality of the product has a significantly positive impact of prices. The nationality of the producer appears to have a small and often insignificant impact on prices, which suggests that countries which regulates prices have relatively little power to do it in a way that advances narrow national interest. We produce a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon based on the fact that low negotiated prices in a country would have a knock-on effect in other markets, and is thus strongly resisted by producers. Another key finding is that the U.S. has prices that are not significantly higher than those of countries with similar income levels. This, together with the former observation on the effect of the nationality of producers casts doubt on the ability of countries to pursPharmaceutical prices

The determinants of pricing in pharmaceuticals: Are U.S. prices really higher than those of Canada?

This paper studies price determination in pharmaceutical markets using data for 25 countries, six years and a comprehensive list of products from the MIDAS IMS database. We show that market power and the quality of the product has a significantly positive impact of prices. The nationality of the producer appears to have a small and often insignificant impact on prices, which suggests that countries which regulates prices have relatively little power to do it in a way that advances narrow national interest. We produce a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon based on the fact that low negotiated prices in a country would have a knock-on effect in other markets, and is thus strongly resisted by producers. Another key finding is that the U.S. has prices that are not significantly higher than those of countries with similar income levels. This, together with the former observation on the effect of the nationality of producers casts doubt on the ability of countries to pursue "free-riding" regulation.Pharmaceutical prices

Influencia biomecánica y clínica del plasma rico en plaquetas (P.R.P.) en la reparación quirúrgica del supraespinoso

31 páginas.Trabajo Fin de Máster Universitario en Patología del Hombro (2014/15). Tutor: Dr. Antonio Pablo Rosales Varo. La utilidad del Plasma Rico en Plaquetas (P.R.P.) en la cirugía reparadora del supraespinoso es controvertida,pudiendo mejorar clínicamente a los pacientes. En la bibliografía consultada no hay estudios que, además, traten de cuantificar si existe también una mejoría biomecánica en pruebas de esfuerzo. El objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar los posibles beneficios clínicos y biomecánicos de la aplicación concomitante del P.R.P. al tratamiento quirúrgico de la rotura del supraespinoso, respecto de otro grupo tratado con igual procedimiento quirúrgico, aunque sin P.R.P. En cuanto a la metodología del proyecto, estudio experimental, ensayo clínico controlado. Se utilizaría, el muestreo consecutivo, asignación aleatoria simple, con triple ciego. Se establecerían dos grupos: Grupo A (control): pacientes con diagnóstico de rotura del supraespinoso, que se tratarían durante la cirugía mediante acromioplastia y sutura. Grupo B: pacientes con mismo diagnóstico, a los que además del tratamiento quirúrgico (acromioplastia y sutura) se procedería a aplicar una infiltración de P.R.P. intraoperatoriamente. Variable independiente principal: aplicación de P.R.P. durante la intervención o no. Variables dependientes: Variables principales de efecto: Variables biomecánicas (Resistencia biomecánica en N/m en abducción, adducción, flexión y extensión activas.) Variables clínicas: Test de Constant, tiempo de rehabilitación postoperatoria. Variables de seguridad: Infección postoperatoria. Necesidad de reintervención. Para el análisis de datos por objetivos, se realizará un análisis exploratorio, descriptivo, inferencial y un modelo lineal general (MLG) de medidas repetidas. Se utilizará el S.P.S.S. 19.0

Ranking Alternatives on the Basis of the Intensity of Dominance and Fuzzy Logic within MAUT

We introduce dominance measuring methods to derive a ranking of alternatives to deal with incomplete information in multi-criteria decision making problems on the basis of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT). We consider the situation where the alternative performances are represented by uniformly distributed intervals, and there exists imprecision concerning the decision-makers¿ preferences, by means of classes of individual utility functions and imprecise weights represented by weight intervals or fuzzy weights, respectively. An additive multi-attribute utility model is used to evaluate the alternatives under consideration, which is considered a valid approach in most practical cases. The approaches we propose are based on the dominance values between pairs of alternatives that can be computed by linear programming, which are then transformed into dominance intensities from which a dominance intensity measure is derived. The methods proposed are compared with other existing dominance measuring methods and other methodologies by Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The performance is analyzed in terms of two measures of efficacy: hit ratio, the proportion of all cases in which the method selects the same best alternative as in the TRUE ranking, and the Rank-order correlation, which represents how similar the overall rank structures of alternatives are in the TRUE ranking and in the ranking derived from the method. The approaches are illustrated with an example consisting on the selection of intervention strategies to restore an aquatic ecosystem contaminated by radionuclides

Hybrid consumption paths in the attribute space: A model and application with scanner data

This paper presents and estimates a dynamic choice model in the attribute space considering rational consumers. In light of the evidence of several state-dependence patterns, the standard attribute-based model is extended by considering a general utility function where pure inertia and pure variety-seeking behaviors can be explained in the model as particular linear cases. The dynamics of the model are fully characterized by standard dynamic programming techniques. The model presents a stationary consumption pattern that can be inertial, where the consumer only buys one product, or a variety-seeking one, where the consumer shifts among varied products. We run some simulations to analyze the consumption paths out of the steady state. Under the hybrid utility assumption, the consumer behaves inertially among the unfamiliar brands for several periods, eventually switching to a variety-seeking behavior when the stationary levels are approached. An empirical analysis is run using scanner databases for three different product categories: fabric softener, saltine cracker, and catsup. Non-linear specifications provide the best fit of the data, as hybrid functional forms are found in all the product categories for most attributes and segments. These results reveal the statistical superiority of the non-linear structure and confirm the gradual trend to seek variety as the level of familiarity with the purchased items increases.Dynamic Choice Model, Rational Consumers, Inertia, Variety Seeking, Hybrid Behavior, Scanner Data

Dominance Measuring Method Performance under Incomplete Information about Weights.

In multi-attribute utility theory, it is often not easy to elicit precise values for the scaling weights representing the relative importance of criteria. A very widespread approach is to gather incomplete information. A recent approach for dealing with such situations is to use information about each alternative?s intensity of dominance, known as dominance measuring methods. Different dominancemeasuring methods have been proposed, and simulation studies have been carried out to compare these methods with each other and with other approaches but only when ordinal information about weights is available. In this paper, we useMonte Carlo simulation techniques to analyse the performance of and adapt such methods to deal with weight intervals, weights fitting independent normal probability distributions orweights represented by fuzzy numbers.Moreover, dominance measuringmethod performance is also compared with a widely used methodology dealing with incomplete information on weights, the stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA). SMAA is based on exploring the weight space to describe the evaluations that would make each alternative the preferred one

NH hoteles: ejemplo de gestión responsable, transparente e innovadora

La responsabilidad, la transparencia y la innovación se alían en NH Hoteles para integrar de forma voluntaria las preocupaciones sociales y ambientales en su gestión para mejorar su competitividad y valor añadido. Este grupo empresarial, empresa responsable de referencia en el sector hotelero, constituye el objeto de nuestro estudio, donde analizamos los cambios innovadores introducidos en la gestión de la empresa, tanto a nivel estratégico como operativo, para adaptarse a los nuevos requerimientos de responsabilidad y a los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible.Responsibility, transparency and innovation team up in NH Hotels to integrate voluntary social and environmental concerns in its management to improve their competitiveness and added value. This business group, responsible com- pany in the hospitality industry, is the subject of this study, where we analyze the innovative changes made to the company’s management, both strategic and operational levels, to adapt to new requirements and accountability sus- tainable development goals

Dominance Measuring Approach using Stochastic Weights

In this paper we propose an approach to obtain a ranking of alternatives in multicriteria decision-making problems when there is imprecision concerning the alternative performances, component utility functions and weights. We assume decision maker's preferences are represented by an additive multi-attribute utility function, in which weights are modeled by independent normal variables, the performance in each attribute for each alternative is an interval value and classes of utility functions are available for each attribute. The approach we propose is based on dominance measures, which are computed in a similar way that when the imprecision concerning weights is modeled by uniform distributions or by an ordinal relation. In this paper we will show how the approach can be applied when the imprecision concerning weights are represented by normal distributions. Extensions to other distributions, such as truncated normal or beta, can be feasible using Monte Carlo simulation techniques

Ranking Alternatives on the Basis of a Dominance Intensity Measure

The additive multi-attribute utility model is widely used within MultiAttribute Utility Theory (MAUT), demanding all the information describing the decision-making situation. However, these information requirements can obviously be far too strict in many practical situations. Consequently, incomplete information about input parameters has been incorporated into the decisionmaking process. We propose an approach based on a dominance intensity measure to deal with such situations. The approach is based on the dominance values between pairs of alternatives that can be computed by linear programming. These dominance values are transformed into dominance intensities from which a dominance intensity measure is derived. It is used to analyze the robustness of a ranking of technologies for the disposition of surplus weapons-grade plutonium by the Department of Energy in the USA, and compared with other dominance measuring methods