Economic impact of implementation of an automated drug supplying and management system in a Central Chemotherapy Preparation Unit in a Moroccan hospital.

Abstract

Automated Drug Supplying and management System (ADS) are effective devices that secure drug's circuit and reduce hospital's expenses. The purposes of this study are to estimate the earnings made from ADS through a cost-benefit medical economic study, to highlight its impact on Central Chemotherapy Preparation Unit's (CCPU) global organization, its ergonomy and staff's satisfaction. Measurement of cytotoxic drug's consumption, expiration losses, pharmacy staff's working time, drugs stock-out before and after the implementation of ADS on the one hand, and assess its ergonomy and acceptability by users on the other hand. After the implementation of ADS, cytotoxic drug's consumption decreased by 9 (%), expiration losses by 98.3 (%), and we could see a gain in working time among CCPU'S technicians of 1.32 (h/day) and pharmacist of 0.67 (h/day), in contrast to the stock manager who increased his working time by 0.95 (h/day). Stock-out have decreased by 41.1 (%). The cost-benefit analysis has shown a net benefit of 67,437 between the two six-month phases, which corresponds to an economy of 134,874 (USD) over one year. The ADS was generally appreciated by the CCPU and pharmaceutical staff and 93(%) don't want to return to the old system. ADS implementation within CCPU led to financial savings in the hospital, an optimization of expenses and better pharmaceutical management.