[Economic impact of the introduction of a minor surgery program in primary care]

To value the economic impact of implantation (establishment) of a minor surgery programme within health area of primary care in Albacete (Spain).

Primary care (PC).

Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Interventions and measurements. It has been recorded some patients operated on subsidiary minor surgery pathologies in the three health centers of Albacete area that participated in pilot experience from 1 November 1997 to 30 October 1998. It has been calculated the fixed costs corresponding to sanitary staff and the repayment of chirurgical area daily. As well, it were calculated the costs corresponding to disposable and not disposable equipment. It were analysed costs in function of intervention and the total cost were compared with the cost it would have supposed if it would carried out in specialized private centers according to up to dated fees of 1998 insurance companies.

During the study interval were operated on 185 patients with an average age of 64,5 years (SD +/- 21,4) with a slight predominance of women. All pathologies treated were benign, 39 cases were abscess, 38 were nail pathology, and 35 were foreign bodies removed.Cost were calculated on the basis of time of one year. Total cost of minor surgery programme were 1.234.440 Pts (7715 Euros) whereas if it would have carried out at specialized level it supposed between 2621450 Pts (15755.23 Euros) and 4440000 Pts (26684.94 Euros).

In our study, the minor surgery programme in primary care diminish the cost in comparison with private specialized level, at the same time as reducing standby list in specialities like surgery or dermatology.