Economic Outcomes of Pharmacist Prescribing Total Parenteral Nutrition at Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biomedical Reports, 2019, 5, 3s, S35-S39.
DOI: 10.5530/PTB.2019.5.35
Published: September 2019
Type: Research Article
Authors: Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Mona Awad Alanazi, and Faiz A. Bahadig

Author(s) affiliations:

Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, The Former General Manager of General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care. Former Head, National Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Former Head, Pharmacy R&D Administration, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

Mona Awad Alanazi, IV admixture and TPN units, Pharmacy services, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

Faiz A. Bahadig, Informatics Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Abdul-Aziz Medical, City-WR-Jeddah, Ministry of National Guard, SAUDI ARABIA.

Abstract

Objectives: In 2013, The General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care started the National Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Program in Saudi Arabia. The pharmacist can provide neonates’ TPN services. In this study, we aimed to estimate the economic outcomes and cost avoidance in relation to pharmacist prescribing TPN. Methods: A total of 20 hospitals provide TPN services for neonates, pediatrics and adult patients. Cost avoidance stimulation in relation to the pharmacist prescribing and running neonates, pediatrics TPN services and replacement physician of a pharmacist as prescriber with adults TPN services. All costs were calculated by using US dollar currency. One-way sensitivity analysis was conducted for a list of discount prices and variety of wage cost with 10–20%. Results: The total annual estimated cost avoidance of pharmacist by providing TPN services for 20 hospitals for all types of patients was (1,569,865.40 USD) and with a discount of 10-20%, it was (1,412,878.86-1,255,892.32 USD). Of those, the total annual estimated cost avoidance of pharmacist providing the TPN services for 20 hospitals for neonates was (562,027.40 USD) and with discount of 10-20%, it was (505,824.66- 449,621.92 USD). The total annual estimated cost avoidance of pharmacist providing the TPN services for 20 hospitals for adults was (523,337.00 USD) and with discount of 10-20%, it was (471,003.30- 418,669.60 USD). The total annual estimated cost avoidance of pharmacist providing the TPN services for 20 hospitals for pediatrics was (484,501.00 USD) and with a discount of 10-20%, it was (436,050.90- 387,600.80 USD). Conclusion: The pharmacist prescribing TPN prevents high economic burden on the healthcare system at Ministry of Health. Expanding the role of a pharmacist in the nutrition support services with an emphasis on prescribing TPN services is highly recommended at healthcare institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: Cost avoidance, Economic, Ministry of Health, Outcomes, Pharmacist, Prescribing, Saudi Arabia, Total Parenteral Nutrition


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