PIH16 - Cost-Efficiency of of National Drug Information Center Through Ministry of Healh Hotline Calling Services (937) in Saudi Arabia: Application of a Mercian Model

Abstract

National Drug Information Center (NDIC) has started providing services since January 2013; and answering public and professional inquires through MOH-Hotline Calling Services (937) since December 2013. The objective of this study was to estimate cost-efficiency of NDIC in Saudi Arabia using American model of drug information inquires cost avoidance. Simulation including all 12-month 2014 of receiving adults and pediatrics drug information inquiries through MOH-Hotline Calling Services (937). Ten on-call clinical Pharmacists and expert trained pharmacists were receiving calls from public and professional asking about drug information, through manual documentation system of drug information inquiries by data collecting form. Using international Study Model (Kinky et al, Ann Pharmacother 1999), the cost considered were the expected results of drug related problems sequel of drug information inquires if not existing drug information services and were not answered; starting from Physician visit, additional treatment, hospital admission to death stage. The total number answered calls were 976 calls, with 264 (27%) answered calls were documented; the average costs avoidance per each answered call was (415.78 USD), and total cost was (109,768 USD) with partial documentation, the estimated total cost with complete documentation was (405,801 USD) per year. The cost avoidance of answering public inquiries was (80,806.5 USD) and Professional inquires was (28,961.5 USD). The highest cost avoidance based on type of inquires was dose standardization (34,195 USD), drug administration (21,324 USD) followed by drugs in pregnancy (15,826 USD) and Adverse a Drug reaction (12,793 USD). The highest cost avoidance was Antibacterial expected related problem (33,454.5 USD) In this National Drug Information Center cost-efficiency simulation for Saudi Arabia, hotline line calling services - Drug Information associated with cost savings per each receiving call. expanding the answering drug information services with electronic documentation, and available e-library resources considering the associated preventing drug related problems and Healthcare Improvement and better care, better patient outcomes, and reduced costs.