Does a system of instalment dispensing for newly prescribed medicines save NHS costs? Results from a feasibility study

Authors: Millar, John; McNamee, Paul; Heaney, David; Selvaraj, Sivasubramaniam; Bond, Christine; Lindsay, Sandra; Morton, Mary

Source: Family Practice, Volume 26, Number 2, 2 April 2009 , pp. 163-168(6)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

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Abstract:

Background. In view of the increasing cost of general practice of drug prescribing, it is important to look at ways of reducing drug wastage and thereby improve the cost-effectiveness of prescribing.

Objective. To determine the costs and cost savings to the NHS of instalment dispensing for newly prescribed medicines and to quantify the extra costs incurred by patients.

Methods. Patients were randomized to receive either a normal (n103) or an instalment (n101) prescription.

Results. The difference between prescribed and dispensed drug costs in the intervention group was 0.98 per patient (95% confidence interval 0.141.82), giving a 7% reduction in drug costs. The costs of the additional pharmacy time required to implement the intervention was calculated to be 5.02 per patient.

Conclusions. Introduction of a system of instalment dispensing produced savings in the general practice of drugs bill, but these were not large enough to offset additional costs for pharmacists.

Keywords: Family medicine; health economics; pharmacy; prescribing; randomized controlled trial

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmn100

Publication date: 2009-04-02

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Family Practice is an international journal aimed at practitioners, teachers and researchers in the fields of family medicine, general practice and primary care in both developed and developing countries.