WHICH DRUGS ARE BULLYING US FINANCIALLY? PRESCRIPTION COST ANALYSIS IN EX-SERVICEMAN POLYCLINIC DISPENSARY IN INDIA

Abstract

Aims: To carry out prescription cost analysis in Ex-Serviceman Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic dispensary in India Study Design: Retrospective Prescription Cost Analysis Place And Duration Of Study: ECHS Polyclinic Dispensary from 01 December 2019 to 31 December 2019 on all working days Methodology: A total of 8295 prescriptions were received at ECHS dispensary in the month of December 2019 at an average of 346 prescriptions per day and a maximum of 445 per day and minimum of 242 per day. On each working day data were collected for previous day and segregated in pre-dened format as per National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2015. The cost toward each group of drugs were calculated on prescribed quantity of medicines and added to calculate unit prescription cost at ECHS Dispensary. Results: It is observed that the highest number of prescriptions 4599 (55.44%) were from General OPD. The total cost of prescribed medicines worked out to be INR 25,55,103.81 for the month of December 2019. Most of the cost was ascribed to amount of INR 13,03,489.31 (51.02%) by section 21 (Hormones, other endocrine medicines and contraceptives). The estimated unit cost of prescription was INR 308.03. Conclusion: Implementing change in prescribing behaviors remains a major challenge for administrators and an inclusive approach with integrated with non-coercive educational approach should be utilized to change the behavior in prescriptions writing. Inculcating the culture of cost awareness amongst the health care providers pays good dividends in the long run. As far as cost containment in the healthcare facility is concerned, the rst step forward can be cost awareness toward what and how much clinician are prescribing.