Economic Impact of Pharmaceutical Recommendations Carried Out in a Liver Transplant Unit of a University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Advances in medicine have provided the possibility of organs and tissues transplantation for therapeutic purposes. Transplant patients, in addition to immunosuppressive therapy, mostly undergo treatment for other comorbidities, and this polypharmacy makes the role of the pharmacist extremely important to ensure patient safety and adherence. Through pharmaceutical recommendations, the professional can reduce morbidity and mortality and thus reduce healthcare costs. Methods: This is an observational, retrospective descriptive study, carried out from January 2021 to December 2022, aiming to analyze the economic impact of pharmaceutical recommendations made in a liver transplant unit of an university hospital. Data collection took place from May to August 2023 through the institution’s clinical pharmacy database. The economic impact was classified as effectiveness increased (EI), cost reduction (RC), and avoided risk (AR) calculated through a methodology developed and adapted to the study’s reality. Medication acquisition costs were verified through the hospital’s own system, and the values were adjusted according to inflation in June 2023. Results: A total of363 pharmaceutical recommendations (PR) were conducted, of which the EI represented 64% (n = 231), followed by RC (20%, n = 72) and risk avoided (16%, n = 60). The total resulting value corrected by the Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo (IPCA) was R$ 179,223.31, with the AE at R$ 140,414.04 and the RC at R$ 38,809.27. Conclusion: The importance of the clinical pharmacist in the multidisciplinary team is evident through the improvement of patient monitoring and health condition management. Through this study, we can perceive that the PR presented had a considerable financial impact, and, through the optimization of pharmacotherapy for transplant patients, an increase in therapeutic EI was obtained. The importance of developing further studies showing the impact of the quality of care provided by the pharmacy’s performance is clear, to further highlight the importance of this field for healthcare assistance.