Health Economics (Pharmacy Business Administration Series)

This book presents an introduction for students to the issues of economics in healthcare. This text is part of the "RPS Pharmacy Business Administration Series"; a group of introductory textbooks covering all business aspects relating to pharmacy practice. Part one of this book introduces health economics with a history a overview. Part two examines health economics in relation to specific areas such as technology, prescription drugs etc. It concludes with general observations of today and the future. The purpose of this book is to acquaint students with the economic issues within healthcare today in the USA in terms of costs, affordability, the historical development, the magnitude of the economic crisis and contributing factors such as technology, drugs, and hospital care. The book also looks at the mechanisms available today to help consumers combat, afford and pay for the high costs of health; and discusses the successes and failures and reasoning behind these.