# Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Medications in the Field of Sexual Medicine Offered by the Brazilian Universal Healthcare System at a Tertiary Hospital

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the cost-effectiveness of sexual medicine medications, particularly for erectile dysfunction, prescribed at a Brazilian hospital outside the universal healthcare system.

## Contribution

The study highlights cost-effective treatment strategies for sexual medicine medications not listed in the National List of Essential Medications.

## Key findings

- 1,377 prescriptions for sexual medicine medications were issued to 1,015 patients from 2016 to 2020.
- Medications for erectile dysfunction were offered in a cost-effective manner despite not being available through pharmaceutical assistance programs.
- Only 0.8% of patients accessed these medications through the courts, indicating limited legal access compared to other specialties.

## Abstract

Medicine is an indispensable component of healthcare systems. However, ensuring its availability, accessibility, rational use, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability poses challenges for most countries throughout the world. The present study involved a retrospective analysis of 7,929 medical appointments recorded in electronic medical records from 2016 to 2020 at a general specialty outpatient clinic of a tertiary-level teaching and research hospital in Brazil. A total of 1,377 prescriptions were issued for medications in the field of sexual medicine not available through the universal healthcare system, with a focus on erectile dysfunction (ED), offered to 1,015 patients. The results revealed sustainable ways of treating patients in specialized care with more complex drug therapy, even if such drugs are not on the National List of Essential Medications. This study demonstrated the importance of management with a focus on communication and synergistic interaction among healthcare providers. Medications for ED within the scope of the universal healthcare system, even if not available through pharmaceutical assistance programs, had a low rate of access through the courts (0.8%) compared to other specialties, but were offered in a cost-effective manner.