THE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO THE CONTROL OF HYPERTENSION - ITS IMPACT ON HEALTH-POLICY

The pharmacologic approach to the control of hypertension must consider both the clinical perspective and the Public Health approach policy in which social costs have to be balanced against benefits to the entire population. Cost-effectiveness analysis are at the core of decisions taken within this frame of reference. The issue of cost-effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic measures are crucial in the case of less developed countries. An analysis of studies undertaken in Mexico leads to the conclusion that, from a Public Health perspective, a program for the control of hypertension with a strong emphasis on drug therapy is likely to require a significant proportion of the health budget. Therefore, more emphasis must be placed on primary prevention based on modifications of life style.