Drug waste minimization as an effective strategy of cost-containment in Oncology

BMC Health Services Research

Manuela Miscoria²  Mauro Mansutti¹  Alessandro Follador¹  Luisa Marini³  Giuseppe Aprile¹  Gianpiero Fasola¹ 

[1] Oncology Department, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;Oncology Department, University Hospital of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy;Pharmacy Department, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy

关键词: Drug waste;    Oncology;    Cost-containment;   

Others  :  1134142
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6963-14-57

 received in 2013-06-15, accepted in 2014-01-29,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Sustainability of cancer care is a crucial issue for health care systems worldwide, even more during a time of economic recession. Low-cost measures are highly desirable to contain and reduce expenditures without impairing the quality of care. In this paper we aim to demonstrate the efficacy of drug waste minimization in reducing drug-related costs and its importance as a structural measure in health care management.

Methods

We first recorded intravenous cancer drugs prescription and amount of drug waste at the Oncology Department of Udine, Italy. Than we developed and applied a protocol for drug waste minimization based on per-pathology/per-drug scheduling of chemotherapies and pre-planned rounding of dosages.

Results

Before the protocol, drug wastage accounted for 8,3% of the Department annual drug expenditure. Over 70% of these costs were attributable to six drugs (cetuximab, docetaxel, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, pemetrexed and trastuzumab) that we named ‘hot drugs’. Since the protocol introduction, we observed a 45% reduction in the drug waste expenditure. This benefit was confirmed in the following years and drug waste minimazion was able to limit the impact of new pricely drugs on the Department expenditures.

Conclusions

Facing current budgetary constraints, the application of a drug waste minimization model is effective in drug cost containment and may produce durable benefits.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Fasola et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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