Abstract
The development of the national drug account (NDA) platform phase 2 proceeded on the
results from phase 1 study funded by the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI). The 2010 HSRINDA report recommended an integrated drug data system to generate necessary data required for
maintaining serial reports of Thailand NDA. Our NDA platform research plan with HSRI support
envisions several phases of NDA development to generate mechanisms of sustainable necessary
data flows. Objectives of phase 2 covered a) exploring possible blueprints of datasources/dataflows,
b) testing magnitudes of drug expenditure from a few digital datasources, and c) surveying drug prices
at drug store outlet to estimate consumer (end customer) spending on drug. Mixed methods of
indepth interviews with key informants and quantitative analysis of participating digital platforms
were employed. Phase 2 began with refining the conceptual drug and expenditure flow within the
country drug supply chain from phase 1, resulting in two separate frameworks for 1) general drug
and 2) for the controlled narcotic. Stakeholders of the two frameworks participated in indepth
interviews; after reaching trusts of developing sustainable NDA goal, samples routine digital data
were asked for pilot tests. Findings of phase 2 were iteratively presented to research consultants
and HSRI research steering committees. Future challenges of the NDA platform research were
discussed and required further practicable clarification. Precision on definitions of drug identification
(ATC/GTIN/IDMP/TMT),quanity (tablet/capsule/pack/carton), price (producer/wholesale/costomer/
reimbursement) of each tier [tier 1 (manufacturer/importer), tier 2 (distributor), tier 3 (wholesaler),
tier N-1 (hospital/clinic/parmacy/grocery), tier N (end customer)] need to be waranted for trustable
NDA.
