Willingness to pay and Contingent Valuation Method in the economic evaluation of pharmacy services

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize key points addressed in investigations of Willingness to Pay (WTP) for pharmaceutical care services, focusing on the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Methods: We performed a non-systematic review with recovery and analysis of manuscript published until November 2020. Three databases were majorly searched, including MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO. Results: The theoretical foundations and methodological process were discussed, presenting the CVM as the main perspective. For questionnaire design, is suggested a structure that sequentially presents the elements: “participant knowledge on intervention”, “intervention presentation”, “hypothetical scenario”, “WTP question”, “perceived health status”, and “socioeconomic information”. In addition, we emphasize the importance of executing validation steps for the instrument of measurement as well as the evaluation process. Conclusion: Assessing the population’s declared preference for pharmaceutical services is still a limited strategy. If carried out properly, this type of investigation can help managers and decision makers in the process of implementing technologies of care.