A Comprehensive Review of Discount Rate Measurement Methods in Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation

Su Chang; He Xiaoning; Wu Jing

Abstract：Objective:Pharmacoeconomic evaluation plays a crucial role in the reimbursement approval and pricing of innovative drugs worldwide,and the recommendation of the discount rate directly affects the evaluation results.It aims to explore methods for calculating the discount rate in pharmacoeconomic evaluations,providing a basis for reevaluating the discount rate values in China.Methods:The methods for calculating the discount rate are discussed from both theoretical and empirical perspectives to explain their principles,indicators,and application examples,while comparing the strengths and limitations.Results:The social opportunity cost method measures the marginal opportunity cost of funding health public projects from the government's perspective as the discount rate,while the social time preference method measures the preference for delayed consumption from the societal perspective as the discount rate.Both methods are simple in principle and widely applied.The weighted average method integrates the first two methods;however,it faces challenges related to complex calculations.Conclusion:Conducting empirical calculations of the discount rate based on foundational data is crucial.Future research should fully consider the strengths and weaknesses of measurement methods and conduct Chinese empirical studies for discount rate.