Pharmacoeconomics of occupational diseases

Abstract

From the economic point of view, occupational skin diseases are relevant to the payers, the patients, and society. Major cost drivers are treatment costs (direct costs), cost for losses of work productivity (indirect costs), and the patients’ burden of disease (intangible costs). From the societal view, the great number of persons affected by occupational skin disease is crucial. Effective treatments for occupational skin diseases reduce the cost burden, and increase work productivity and the patients’ quality of life. Preventive measures can be cost-effective if applied in time and provided to persons at defined risks. Cost-benefit evaluation of interventions for occupational skin diseases requires a long-term assessment period.