Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Medication Safety Program at Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, East Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: Medication safety program started at East Province of Ministry of Health in 2013. The pharmacist prevents all drug related problems. The study objective to estimate cost-efficiency of Medication Safety program at the hospital in East province, Saudi Arabia by using American model of pharmacist intervention cost avoidance. Methods: It is a 12-month 2015 of 500-bed Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital through preventing and documentation of medication errors in adults and pediatrics at Ministry of Health hospitals. The hospital had medication safety officer with medication safety committee. The program Led by trained pharmacist and delivered Basic medication safety education to all health professional. The estimated cost calculated Using International Study Model (Ling et al., Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2005), expressed in USD, the cost considered were the expected results of medication errors sequel if not stopped; starting from Physician visit, additional laboratory test, further treatment, hospital admission, Critical care admission to death stage. Results: The total number of prevented medication errors were 1654 at 827 prescribed to 827 patients. The estimated cost avoidance of stopping medication was (115,591.12 USD) annually. The pharmacist avoided medication errors with estimated cost avoidance of drug-related problem (69.88 USD) per each prescription, and (139.76 USD) per patient. The highest drug of cost avoidance were Insulin injection (39,964.32 USD), iron tablet (11,526.9 USD) folic acid tablet (11,526.9 USD), and calcium tablet (11,526.9 USD), and Enoxaparin injection (9,637.02 USD). There was Three high-risk medication founded with errors Insulin, Enoxaparin, and Heparin with (43.12 %) of annual total cost avoidance. Conclusions: In this medication safety program is a cost-efficiency simulation at Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Saudi Arabia, prevents medication misadventures, improve patient safety. Expanding drug safety program associated with preventing drugrelated problems, and cost avoidance simulation for Healthcare improvement and better care, and better patient outcomes.